tracked leading pair, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
held up last, mistake 1st, left modest 3rd at 2nd, jumped left 4th and next, soon well outpaced, mistake 6th, soon tailed off
chased winner, closed from 4 out, every chance when went left and hit 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in, but unable to challenge
made all, clear 6th until 4 out, pushed along when left in command 2 out, went left last, ridden out
SIRE DE GRUGY beat Special Tiara less than a length in last season’s Tingle Creek at Sandown and is 10lb worse off. But Gary Moore’s former champion looked right back to his best when giving supporters of Un De Sceaux a fright in this season’s Tingle Creek, when Sir Valentino was back in fifth, and can come out on top again. Savello looks to have a lot to find on these terms.
Sire De Grugy (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, 2nd 4 out, pushed along approaching next, challenged and hit 2 out, ridden and took slight lead briefly run-in, no extra final 100 yards, kept on to hold 2nd, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Un De Sceaux (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Savello (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, fell 5th, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Sir Valentino (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Held up last, mistake 5th, modest 5th before 2 out, plugged on from last, never involved, 5th of 6, 5 1/2l behind Un De Sceaux (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Special Tiara 2-1fav (11-0) Led, jumped left 3 out, 3rd and beaten 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 8, 18l behind Fox Norton (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
