took the lead on the run in and was driven out to win his first major steeplechase by one and three-quarter lengths. 2013/2014 National Hunt season Sire de Grugy began his fourth season in a handicap chase at Chepstow on 26 October, in which he carried top weight of 166 pounds. Starting at odds of 7/2, he took the lead after the third last and accelerated clear of his rivals to win in "impressive" style by eleven lengths despite a mistake at the last. On 17 November, the gelding started as odds-on favourite for the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham. He recovered from several jumping errors to take the lead at the second last but was overtaken fifty yards from the finish and beaten by the Nicky Henderson-trained Kid Cassidy, who was carrying ten pounds less. Three weeks later, Sire de Grugy started joint-favourite with Captain Conan for the Grade I Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown. Moore restrained the gelding in the early stages before moving forward to challenge for the lead approaching the final fence. Sire de Grugy went clear on the run-in to win by four lengths from the Mick Channon-trained nine-year-old Somersby with Captain Conan in third place. On 27 December, Sire de Grugy was matched against the outstanding two-mile chaser Sprinter Sacre, winner of his last ten races, in the Grade II Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton. Sprinter Sacre was pulled up after the seventh fence (subsequent veterinary examinations revealed a heart problem), leaving Sire de Grugy to take the lead four fences from the finish and win by four lengths from Oiseau de Nuit, with a gap of twenty-six lengths back to Astracad in third. On 18 January, Sire de Grugy started 5/4 favourite for the Grade I Clarence House Chase at Ascot Racecourse. As in some of his earlier races, he jumped to the left at several fences but took the lead approaching the second last and went clear of his rivals to win by eleven lengths from the Irish-trained Hidden Cyclone. Sire de Grugy made his first appearance at the Cheltenham Festival when he was one of eleven horses to contest the Queen Mother Champion Chase. He started the 11/4 favourite in a field which included Captain Conan, Somersby, Special Tiara and the 2011 winner Sizing Europe. His odds had lengthened after doubt about his ability to cope with the peculiarities of the course