Old favourite Simenon bids for Grade 1 glory with new trainer

Preview: USA, Thursday 6.00pm BST

Saratoga: A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase (Grade 1) | 2m½f | 4yo+

The former Willie Mullins-trained favourite Simenon is the eye-catcher among the 11-strong field for Thursday’s $150,000 Grade 1 at Saratoga Park.

A dual Royal Ascot winner in 2012 before finishing a neck second to Estimate in one of the most memorable Ascot Gold Cups in recent decades, Simenon races for new trainer Richard Hendrik's.

Now aged ten, he has already had a run for Hendriks, finishing ninth of ten in a 1m4f Flat race. On Thursday he may be more in his comfort zone back over an extended two miles and with hurdles to jump.

It is not a weak race by any stretch of the imagination – he is set to face two Grade 1 winners and the race tends to serve as preparation for the valuable New York Turf Writers Cup in August.

Portrade, trained by Elizabeth Voss, is one of those two Grade 1 winners, along with 2013 winner Mr Hot Stuff.

Voss said of Portrade: “He's a pretty honest horse. He always runs his heart out anywhere he is. He's run so well here we kind of keep it light with him in the spring looking toward these races.”

She added: “If you watch him move he's kind of hard on himself so I try to keep it easy on him in the spring and get him up here. He knows what he's supposed to do and he's just naturally a great jumper.”

The 11-year-old Mr Hot Stuff is a multiple graded stakes winner and had been off the track for over 18 months before returning in April when he finished second.

Stepped up to a Grade 1 in May, he was subsequently pulled up. His trainer Jack Fisher also runs National Hunt Cup third Schoodic.