Cheltenham Festival Champion Chase winner Sire De Grugy has died aged 17

Sire De Grugy, trained by Gary Moore for the Preston family, won 17 times and enjoyed his greatest moment when winning the 2014 Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham

Tributes have poured in for one of the most popular jumpers of the century Sire De Grugy who has died at the age of 17.

Trained by Gary Moore and owned by the Preston family, Sire De Grugy won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival.

In all he recorded 17 victories from 42 career starts, also landing the Tingle Creek Chase twice, the Clarence House Chase and Celebration Chase, earning over £880.000 by the time he retired in December 2017to spend the rest of his days with Jamie Moore and his family.

Sean Preston said: “I never knew a horse could bring a family such amazing memories and some of the best days of our life’s for sure.”

Sire De Grugy made his debut in 2010, finishing second in the bumper race at Sandown and won his first race at Fakenham on New Year’s Day 2011.

After winning the Tingle Creek for the first time in 2013, he won six of his next seven starts. When he triumphed at Cheltenham, jockeys came out of the weighing room to applaud Jamie Moore into the winners’ enclosure.

Gary Moore said: "He was a very, very good racehorse and a really good friend. What he did in his later part of life - from a horse that was a warrior to chill out like he did and let Jamie’s children ride him when they were only eight or nine. He was just a one-off.

"Lucie, Jamie’s wife, used to ride him and we ever needed a lead horse for schooling he was there. You wouldn’t get another one like him - we were very lucky to have him. It was sad but these things happen, don’t they."

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Many punters took to social media to pay tribute, one saying: “Heartbreaking to read this. Champ has died in retirement. Run free to the bridge dear boy. Sire De Grugy you will never be forgotten. Thoughts are with his owners and the Moore family.”

A post from Sandown Park said: “Everyone at Sandown Park is incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Sire De Grugy.

“Sire ran his first ever race here, won both the Tingle Creek and Celebration Chases twice and was our @RoRLatest Horses for Courses Ambassador. He will be sorely missed.”