SPRINTER Sacre gave West Berkshire trainer Nicky Henderson plenty to smile about over the festive period.

Sprinter Sacre edged a cracking race with fellow champion chaser Sire De Grugy to win the williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton.

His victory went a long way to easing doubts over his health having been pulled up in the same race two years earlier and diagnosed with a fibrillating heart.

Sprinter Sacre had already looked back to his best when winning at Cheltenham in November and he fully justified his 8/11 favourite price tag at Kempton last week.

The Gary Moore-trained Sire De Grugy, like Sprinter Sacre a former winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, was similarly resurgent in the Tingle Creek at Sandown three weeks ago and was next best at 11/4.

Jamie Moore sent Sire De Grugy to the front early on but Nico de Boinville quickly moved alongside on Sprinter Sacre.

There was little to separate the pair approaching the last until Sprinter Sacre produced a massive leap before galloping to the line to win by three-quarters of a length.

Seven Barrows handler Henderson described it as “the hardest race he's had,” before adding: “I got the feeling that two miles round here [Kempton] isn't enough of a test for him.

“He had to be a different horse, and a brave one, to win, and he's won it with his heart because his heart had to be big."

Henderson also reflected on Sprinter Sacre's return to the venue where his heart problem was first detected.

"It's all a step forward, but an entirely different step,” he explained. “The other horse looked to be getting the better of it, but the way he's kept on you'd have to say there wasn't a lot wrong.

"There was the 'coming back to Kempton' thing, but he certainly hasn't remembered what happened and Nico's given him a lovely ride."

  • THE next meeting at Newbury Racecourse is on Wednesday, January 20.