Sire shows his old spark at Ascot While the victory of Sire De Grugy in the Shawbrook Handicap Chase at Ascot might not have carried the prestige of his five Grade One triumphs, it was a win for trainer Gary Moore that meant equally as much. Having looked a shadow of his former self in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month, the former Champion Chase winner showed he still has plenty to offer as he took full advantage of the handicapper's leniency to register win number 17. Jumping with great fluency throughout, the 8-1 shot defied top weight to make his class tell in claiming a length-and-a-half success, triumphing for the first time since winning his second Tingle Creek Chase almost 12 months ago. Moore said: "It rates as one of his best performances. I think maybe Vaniteux didn't turn up and while he was a bit more classy than Sire over hurdles, it is a different ball game chasing. "He jumped impeccably today. I was pleased with his run at Liverpool, as he ran badly first time out last year and he'd had two racecourse gallops then and he'd had none this year because the ground was so firm. "He will go for the Tingle Creek, as long as he comes out of this OK. It would not be the end of the world if we waited and came back for the Clarence House, but we would look at the Desert Orchid (Kempton) before that." Adrian Heskin made his first ride for trainer Ian Williams a successful one when partnering newcomer King Of Realms (20-1) to a five-length victory in the Neptune Investment Management Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race. Williams said: "He was very professional. We are not renowned for winning bumpers, but it is always nice to come here and win one. He is built like a chaser and what he has done today is beyond what I expected of him at this stage of his career."
