As a result, Gary Moore’s eight-year-old Sire De Grugy is the 2/1 favourite. In two races round the Cheltenham course Sire De Grugy has finished second on both occasions, first to Captain Conan (6/1) and then to Kid Cassidy (10/1).
But the eight-year-old got revenge over Captain Conan in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown last December (Somersby (20/1) was second).
Trainer Nicky Henderson has won this race for the last two years and, while there might be nothing of the quality of Sprinter Sacre in 2014, Captain Conan and Kid Cassidy could see him land the prize again.
