6 Unforgettable Moments From The 2014 Cheltenham Festival

2. Sire De Grugy Takes A Famous Victory In The Queen Mother Champion Chase Sire De Grugy was the defacto favourite in a race that prior to Christmas had been considered to belong to superstar horse, Sprinter Sacre, but on the 27th December, Sprinter Sacre was pulled up by his jockey, Barry Geraghty with atrial fibrillation, and has not competed in a race since that date and has since been ruled out for the season. Sire De Grugy was purchased by the Preston Family and their friends for 50,000 Euros. The horse was purchased as a 50th birthday present for Steve Preston with some money that had been provided by his 3 sons for him to buy a horse. They found a man in lesser-known dual-track trainer Gary Moore who would pay for a 25% stake in the horse and train SDG at his stables in Sussex. Gary's son Jamie spotted the horse in France, rides him every day and has jockeyed him in all of his professional races. As the day arrived, the Preston family arrived at Cheltenham decked in red and blue scarves. The famous red and blue colours of Crystal Palace (their Dad's favourite football team) matching the silks worn by Jamie as he climbed aboard Sire De Grugy in the paddock. The horse had been unfancied by bookies and pundits alike despite winning 4 previous races during the season and only losing one due to a 10lb weight allowance to the winner, yet went into the race with an 11/4 starting price and the favourite in the race. With the 2nd pre-race favourite Captain Conan pulling up lame early in the race, Sire De Grugy was comfortable throughout the race, until 4 fences from home when Baily Green fell, unseated Hinterland's jockey and Jamie narrowly avoided the fallen horses, side-stepping them before continuing down the Cheltenham hill. As they turned for home and approached the 2nd last fence, Somersby challenged for the lead. 2 fluid jumps later, Jamie Moore crossed the line with his arms around the horses neck, he was greeted soon after by his fellow jockeys congratulating him on his first ever Cheltenham Festival winner. As the horse was walked back to the parade ring, the TV cameras captured Claire Balding (currently of Channel 4 fame) in a Sire De Grugy scarf, when they returned to the horse, the horse was wrapped in scarves too. Jamie Moore was greeted by a guard of honour from his fellow jockeys, and for him, it will be a day he will likely never forget. For Gary Moore, the horse he has trained has finally got the recognition he deserved, and his son has rode a big race winner for him. For the Preston family, a horse that cost £50,000 has now earned £542,808 in his career. Not a bad investment at all.