Stablemates may meet once again

TRAINER Gary Moore is considering letting stablemates Sire De Grugy and Ar Mad take each other on for the second time this season in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 21.

Having clashed in the Tingle Creek at Sandown earlier this month, the pair may now meet again in the Grade One contest at Ascot on January 21.

While the two-mile-one-furlong race is the main target for Ar Mad, it is one of two options for former Champion Chase winner Sire De Grugy as he bids to bounce back from his second fence departure in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on Wednesday.

Moore said: “Sire De Grugy just made a clumsy mistake and got rid of Jamie (Moore, jockey). He just got a bit low it was as simple as that.

“It was totally out of character for the horse but they are all entitled to one. He carried on jumping round with the others after that. He ate up last night and seems fine this morning.

“The truthful answer is I don’t know where Sire De Grugy will go yet. Hopefully, it will be the Clarence House. If not, it will be the Game Spirit at Newbury on February 11.

“Ar Mad is going straight to the Clarence House then, hopefully, he will go back there for the Ascot Chase in February. It’s a strong possibility that both will run in the Clarence House.”

JOSSES Hill will be targeted at the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after failing to see out three miles in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Although the eight-year-old was only beaten seven lengths on his first try over the distance in the Boxing Day feature, connections were far from convinced he effectively got the trip.

Plans are now in place for the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding to be dropped back down to two miles and five furlongs for a second shot at the Grade One on March 16.

Mike Spence, son of owner Alan Spence, said: “We were thrilled with him and thought it was probably a career best.

“Turning for home and just after two out, we still thought he was going to finish second. He certainly didn’t shape like the worst horse in the race.

“He just didn’t stay. I think he raced as well as Cue Card but he is not in the same league as Thistlecrack.

“If he stayed he would have finished second but he just showed in the last halffurlong that he didn’t stay.

“We learnt a lot though and he has improved again. He showed he was capable of running in that class of race.

“We will drop him back in trip and the Ryanair will be the target. I don’t know if he will race beforehand.

“He liked the ground at Kempton the other day and he is fine on good to soft but he would rather have it good.

“The Ryanair is tailor-made for him and all roads lead to it.”

TODAY’S meeting at Haydock is off due to frost.