Simonsig could be worth another chance

[MrMcGoldrick]

I'm gonna weigh in on Simonsig tomorrow, getting weight from Purple Bay and a return to hurdles might be a winning formula. I also intend adding Upepito and Lightning Moon in a multiple.

[Istabraq]

Good luck MM.
I just looking for the horse to retain some of his ability and improve through the season and stay fit.
The Queen Mother is looking thin to me with little depth, we need the likes of Simonsig to arrive fit and in form to give UDS because other than Dodging Bullets there aren't many challengers...

[MrMcGoldrick]

Simonsig pulled far too hard but still looked very impressive in travelling, I think there's a good season to be had if he stays fit and well, just outstayed by Bobsworth. It will be interesting to see where they go from here, the only listing I can find for Cheltenham is the Gold cup, I think he would need decent ground to get the trip, but I wouldn't be surprised if, after a conflab between owner trainer and jockey, they opted for a different route, maybe the fighting fifth to line up a possible tilt at the champion hurdle, that looks a much weaker division to me than the 3 mile plus chaser one, who knows, Isty may have the answer when suggesting potentially the champ chase, I still think he could be facing Vautour in that one though.

[MrMcGoldrick]

Just had a look on Oddschecker and Simonsig is available at 16's for the QM and 33's for the Gold cup, nothing for the Champ hurdle, maybe I'm not on the right wavelength there then, I think it would be worth considering for them though, they need to think outside the box at the Hendo yard to give them more chances of any kind of victory at Cheltenham. This will be a problem for lots of yards though, which Mullins hotpots do they have the best chance of getting near to.

[Istabraq]

I feel for all Simonsig backers yesterday and there were a few of you.
I hate criticising jockeys but BG knows everything that needs to be known about Bobs Worth and having traveled so well he should have used Simonsigs gears as Bobs Worth would only ever stay.
Encouraging return for them both, but from a betting angle if I sat here with a Simonsig voucher for yesterdays race I'd be a little upset....

[Old Vic]

I feel for all Simonsig backers yesterday and there were a few of you.
I hate criticising jockeys but BG knows everything that needs to be known about Bobs Worth and having traveled so well he should have used Simonsigs gears as Bobs Worth would only ever stay.
Encouraging return for them both, but from a betting angle if I sat here with a Simonsig voucher for yesterdays race I'd be a little upset....

I backed him but wasnt disappointed with the ride. Barry switched Simonsig wide going into the straight to avoid getting into a battle but ultimately thats what happened. In post race quotes he said Simon give a blow three out and didnt think he was holding onto much. The race panned out very similar to day Fingal Bay beat him as a novice in Sandown imo.

Quote in Guardian from Chris Cook saying Hendo doesnt see Simonsig as a 3 miler so will be interesting to see where he goes next.

[MrMcGoldrick]

I backed him but wasnt disappointed with the ride. Barry switched Simonsig wide going into the straight to avoid getting into a battle but ultimately thats what happened. In post race quotes he said Simon give a blow three out and didnt think he was holding onto much. The race panned out very similar to day Fingal Bay beat him as a novice in Sandown imo.

Quote in Guardian from Chris Cook saying Hendo doesnt see Simonsig as a 3 miler so will be interesting to see where he goes next.

I can't say I was disappointed with the ride, he just got outstayed, had BG gone sooner then Bobsworth would probably have won farther, his stamina is pretty much guaranteed, whereas Simonsig seemed to empty out, not surprising after his lay off and how much he pulled. Regarding the right trip for Simonsig the quote from Hendo on ATR is that he sees him as a 2 miler, but when they spoke to BG he mentioned the King George saying he has plenty of options but needs to mix it with the big boys sooner rather than later.
I think if the two Hendo horses were mine I'd be thinking Champion hurdle and World hurdle, rather than automatically going back chasing, the Gold cup is going to take a lot of winning this year so why not think outside the box. I can see a big run coming from Bob in the Henessey, getting 21lb from Conegree, but I wouldn't give him a chance in the Gold cup on level weights. I can see the reasoning behind the QM for Simonsig, but I think the hurdle route would play more to his strengths, those being how well he travels and turn of foot, [when fit and not quite so fresh]