2013 Arkle Chase at Cheltenham Preview Part 1

One of the genuine National Hunt feathers in Nicky Henderson’s cap this year looks to be the extremely talented Simonsig - a horse with only two blemishes on his 8 race career - one a falling effort back on the point-to-point circuit and the other one a tough 2nd place finish at Sandown to the respected Fingal Bay. 

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A Grade 1 winner from last year’s Cheltenham Festival thanks to a score in the Neptune Novices’ saw him follow that up with a score at Aintree in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. A festival double for Henderson has seen Simonsig remain on the novice circuit but step up to proper fences - a move which has seen him win his last two races by a combined 84 lengths. 

Sent off at microscopic prices of 1/6 and 2/9 for those efforts, the effect of those victories has sent shockwaves through the antepost market for the 2013 Arkle Chase at Cheltenham - it doesn’t look like many are too keen to take him on. It appears as though he could be the next iteration of Sprinter Sacre, at least in his ability to scare off other horses and get the job done at Cheltenham when it really counts. 

Look for Barry Geraghty to look to him as one of his key mounts on the first day of the jumps racing extravaganza. 

One of the most striking things about Simonsig’s efforts over proper fences has been how fluently he’s been jumping. During his hurdles career, he was oftentimes not too fluent but he really looks to be that much more comfortable jumping over bigger timber. 

He will deploy the front-running style he’s shown in both of his efforts this year and expect him to take keen hold early on.