Sire De Grugy© Photo Healy Racing
Gary Moore says Sire De Grugy is in great shape ahead of the Betway Champion Chase and may turn to headgear in order to eke out a little more improvement.
Speaking in his Betway blog, the trainer confirmed that all has gone to plan with the 2013 winner, who was beaten by favourite Un De Sceaux in the Clarence House Chase last time.
"I can report that Sire De Grugy is in really great form at home," wrote Moore. "Jamie (Moore) rode him this morning and we were both delighted with him."
Sire De Grugy is yet to run in headgear in a career spanning 33 races, but Moore feels blinkers may help bring about the improvement needed to turn the tables on Willie Mullins' horse.
"The plan is to school him tomorrow (Thursday) and we're going to pop a pair of blinkers on him for the first time," he said.
"That's not because he's un-genuine or anything like that, it's just to see whether it sharpens him up a bit.
"He's that bit older and wiser, and if they can eke out a tiny bit of improvement, it may just get us that bit closer to Un De Sceaux.
"If he goes well in them, then there is every chance he may wear them next week at Cheltenham. We will make that decision nearer to the time, though."
For now Moore, who wants further rain before the big race, is keeping things simple and following the same path that led to an emotional success two years ago.
"We plan to take him to the beach again in the next few days like we have done every year. It's become part of his Cheltenham preparation and he just seems to love it there.
"The plan after that is just to keep him ticking over as all the hard work has been done and fingers crossed we get him to the Festival."
