Sire now out of the Shloer Sire De Grugy will miss his intended reappearance in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on Sunday after returning lame following a workout on Wednesday morning. Trainer Gary Moore had initially expressed satisfaction after the Queen Mother Champion Chase winner engaged in a routine spin on the gallops ahead of his weekend assignment, but a problem has now come to light. Moore said: "He's not going to run on Sunday, unfortunately. He worked well this morning and was fine straight after, but he's lame now." The West Sussex handler insists it is too early to know whether his stable star will be able to defend his crown in the Tingle Creek at Sandown on December 6. He said: "I'm hoping he'll be OK for Sandown, but it's up in the air. There's nothing obvious, but he is lame. "It is a big worry." Part-owner Sean Preston said on Twitter he was "devastated" that Sire De Grugy is unable to run at Cheltenham. In the favourite's absence, the Nicky Richards-trained northern raider Simply Ned will be well fancied by many to claim the Listed prize over two miles. The seven-year-old rounded off last season by chasing home Balder Succes in Grade One company at Aintree and made an impressive winning return to action in a Kelso handicap at the start of last month. Richards said: "All being well, Simply Ned will run in the Shloer Chase. "He is fine, everything has gone nicely since Kelso, and we are looking forward to it."
