Simonsig moving on for an inevitable victory in the John Smith’s Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on 14th April
The Grade 2 John Smith’s Mersey Novices’ Hurdle will get staged at Aintree over two miles and four furlongs on Saturday, 14th April. Contesting for the race that carries a £28,475 purse are ten four-year and older thoroughbreds.
The most accomplished entry on the line-up is Simonsig, Fair Mix’s six-year-old grey gelding out of mare, Dusty Too. Till yet he is unbeaten in the two outings that he undertook during 2012 and before that during the previous season, he struck a hat trick
which came through an unusual assortment of three race courses.
He strode into the season on 15th February in the Betvictor Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso over two miles and two furlongs. Simonsig was the 2/7 favourite winner, paired up with Barry Geraghty. The Nicky Henderson trained led the runner up of the
race, Knockara Beau, by 2 ¼ lengths.
Settling third behind the winner was Local Hero.
His second attempt of the season was in the Grade 1 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Registered As Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle) on 14th March at Cheltenham over two miles and five furlongs.
Entered as the favourite second time in a row, Simonsig was the first one to race through the field of seventeen with Barry Geraghty riding once again. Deprived of victory by a seven lengths’ loss was the runner up of the race, Felix Yonger.
Reserving the third position behind the winner was Monksland.
The distance that he has to race over today is favourable along with the privilege of riding with Barry Geraghty for a straight fifth time so that the two bag the fourth win together.
He has the strongest of chances to claim the second hat trick of the career today and that too with the first three outings of the new season. No way will the race turn out to be effortless for the six-year-old as the line-up is pretty competitive and versatile.
There are those who are racing right out of a win and then there are those who have struck hat tricks too thus Simonsig will need put in loads of sincere effort for achieving the second career hat trick that stands at a gap of only a second score in between.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Tags: