Sire de Grugy in Cheltenham 'Feel Good' Story

Sire de Grugy provided one of the feel-good stories of the Cheltenham Festival in England by winning the high-profile BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase by six lengths March 12.



The popular victory delighted two families who came together in unusual circumstances four years ago and agreed to take a punt on a horse who has matured to be one of Britain's best chasers.



In 2010, friends and family members of Steve Preston, a businessman from the north of England, clubbed together and deposited £2,000 (about $3,300) in a bank account set up in the racing enthusiast's name. There was a caveat—the money had to go toward buying a race horse.



Preston spoke to a number of prospective trainers about helping him find a horse and eventually struck a deal with Gary Moore, who ran a small operation near where Preston used to live in the south of the country. Moore discovered Sire de Grugy in France and convinced Preston and three of his friends to up the budget to about £35,000 ($58,000) and purchase a horse with great potential.



Four years later, Preston was at Cheltenham to see Sire de Grugy romp to victory under jockey Jamie Moore, the son of Gary, and take his earnings to more than £500,000 ($830,000).



''Jamie has given him a peach of a ride and I'm just thrilled for everybody,'' Gary Moore said. ''There are a lot of people who deserve a lot of credit . I'm just glad he's won for everyone as much as anything else.''



Racing in the red-and-blue colors of his owners' favorite football team Crystal Palace, 11-4 favorite Sire de Grugy was given a patient ride by Jamie Moore before moving into contention after jumping the second-to-last fence. He ran clear of second-place Somersby (14-1) in the sprint to the line for a first prize of almost 200,000 pounds ($330,000).



Sire de Grugy now has won Britain's three biggest two-mile races this season, following up impressive victories in the Tingle Creek at Sandown and the Clarence House at Ascot. And he has filled the void left by the injury to Sprinter Sacre, Britain's leading jump horse who wasn't able to defend his Queen Mother title because of a heart problem.



''The horse hasn't been given any credit this season,'' Jamie Moore said, ''and he has proved today, at a track he hates and on ground he does not like, what a good horse he is.''



Earlier, the combination of jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins claimed their third victory of the festival as Faugheen (6-4 favorite) cruised to a huge win in the Novices' Hurdle.



Champion jockey A.P. McCoy was denied a first win of the week when his horse, Get Me Out Of Here, lost a photo finish to Whisper (14-1) in the Coral Cup.