Nicky Henderson has finally decided Simonsig's Cheltenham Festival target and unfortunately he will be going for the Neptune Investmentment Management Novices' Hurdle over 2m5f. I have championed him for the Supreme all year and it looked the perfect race. He seems to have a huge amount of speed, as well as stamina and I've not seen anything travel as strongly this season, a stiff 2m round Cheltenham was ready-made for him.
The only jumping issues I've noticed were at Kelso, but there were problems with the low sun and as a result Simonsig probably couldn't see the obstacles in front of him. Connections feel Simonsig needs more time at his hurdles and suggest this is the main reason they have chosen the longer race, but I think he is a decent jumper.
Barry Geraghty was always going to have a good ride in the Supreme with Tetlami and Nicky Henderson was always going to have a strong hand with him and Darlan, but the stable's Neptune candidates have generally not shown enough and as result if Simonsig had gone for the Supreme, Geraghty and Henderson would not have had much chance in the Neptune. By running Simonsig in the Neptune, Barry Geraghty has two very strong rides and Nicky Henderson has the favourite for both races. I feel this has significantly influenced the decision.
The run behind Fingal Bay is probably still the single best piece of novice hurdle form this season. Simonsig was seemingly out-stayed at Sandown but I believe the Henderson yard think their horse wasn't at his peak that day and it has been rumoured that he has recently had a breathing operation. If he is better than he showed then and there was something preventing him from going through with his effort then Simonsig is a huge player in the Neptune as well. However, the manner in which he travels so strongly suggests a drop in trip is preferred and I would still worry that he failed to see out the trip at Sandown. Of course, with the latest injury to Fingal Bay he will not need to reverse that form and he may well, therefore, be good enough to win it on that performance. I'm sure the lack of Fingal Bay also had a bearing on Nicky Henderson's decision as straight after the run at Sandown he said he did not want to take on Philip Hobbs' charge again.
When one considers Simonsig's breeding, his pointing background, the 2m2f bumper win and the lack of Fingal Bay then it is understandable to chose the further race but on his runs this season he has looked all speed and it looks the wrong decision that has been based on Henderson's strength in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, not on what is best for the horse.
No comments:
Post a Comment