Sprinter Sacre pulled up as Sire De Grugy wins Desert Orchid

Sprinter Sacre was pulled up as Sire De Grugy won the Desert Orchid Chase.

Jamie Moore rode the 4-1 winner home at Kempton after the odds-on favourite, ridden by Barry Geraghty, failed to finish in his first outing since April.

The seven-year-old, previously unbeaten in 10 steeplechases, withdrew around the halfway point of the two-mile race.

"They (the vets) listened to him when he pulled him up, and there is an irregular heartbeat there," said trainer Nicky Henderson.

Sire De Grugy took advantage and passed the winning post four lengths clear of Oiseau De Nuit.

Earlier this month, Sprinter Sacre withdrew from the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, also won by Sire De Grugy, through injury and had not raced since winning the Champion Chase at Punchestown in April.

Geraghty had written in his At The Races blog that his mount was "flying" in the build up to the Grade Two race, but after looking uncomfortable early on the jockey pulled him up.

Henderson added: "He is going to have to go for dope tests and then they will scope him and hopefully we will know more later."

Winning owner Gary Moore, father of the victorious jockey, said the circumstances took some of the gloss off the win.

He said: "I'm over the moon for the horse and the owners, and especially Jamie. It's just a shame he had to do it that way but it's not his fault the other horse has gone wrong.

"I can enjoy it, but it has probably taken a bit of gloss off. If ever we were going to take Sprinter Sacre on, today was going to be the day."