Sire De Grugy is unlikely to return to action at Chepstow on Sunday and is instead set to reappear at Cheltenham or Exeter.
The nine-year-old has not run since falling at the Betfred Melling Chase at Aintree in April and, despite being entered in the John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase at the Welsh venue this weekend, he is now set for a delay in his comeback.
Trainer Gary Moore feels the gelding would benefit from the extra preparation time and he is instead likely to make his return at either the Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on October 24 or the Haldon Gold Cup on November 3 at Exeter
Moore said: “I would say he’s unlikely to run at the weekend as he’s just not quite ready. There’s the option of a £50,000 handicap at Cheltenham’s first meeting or the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter for him.”
Moore believes that although the Preston Family-owned horse is fit and ready to return, he feels the two-and-a-half mile stretch at Chepstow will be too much, too soon.
He added: “His schooling and everything has been 100 per cent, there’s no problems, but it’s two and a half miles and I’d just like to give him a bit more time.”
