Simonsig is now 5-4 for the Racing Post Arkle with Coral
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Sensational Simonsig
scores in Wayward Lad
Report: Kempton, Thursday
Williamhill.com Novices' Chase (Registered as the Wayward Lad) (Grade 2) 2m
SIMONSIG put in a performance reminiscent of his illustrious stablemate Sprinter Sacre with an exhibition round of jumping to demolish his rivals at 1-6.
RELATED LINKS
Just six days ago Simonsig rocked up at Ascot and slaughtered a field of overmatched rivals with an electric display of jumping. The rivals were better this time, the result was the same.
Jockey Barry Geraghty kept it simple on the Nicky Henderson-trained 1-6 favourite and went off into the lead, rocketing along at the front on his first start over 2m and quickly went clear of second favourite Hinterland. And that is how is stayed.
Simonsig was not perfect at every fence but was clever when he needed to be putting in an extra stride and popping over instead of his normal exuberant bound.
Turning into the straight, Geraghty had a long, lazy look behind him and fired his partner into the final three fences to score as he liked - as he had done 12 months previously on Sprinter Sacre.
Sprinter Sacre went on to win the Racing Post Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival and Simonsig was cut again for success in this season's contest.
BetVictor make his even money (from 13-8) for victory while William Hill make him the same price (from 7-4) for glory and Coral go 5-4 (from 7-4).
Henderson said: "I like the way he went about that today. He was professional, tidy and in that ground there was no need to be flashy. He's probably not as flashy as Sprinter Sacre but he's still got all the gears.
"You always worry about coming back quickly that you'll get egg on your face. It was just practice we needed. If he had that today and one at the end of January then he has a good run into Cheltenham."
Comments