simonsig

I don't see his profile as a Supreme horse and Hendo has loads of other options for that race. He says the Neptune but unless the ground rides on the quick side, I think they'll duck another fight with Fingal Bay. Entirely possible that Ronnie Bartlett will try and win his own race though the markets would lead you to believe otherwise at the moment.

Henderson discounted the Albert Bartlett both before and after its last run, saying he saw it as more of a speed horse than that....Sandown run would seem to have confirmed that but you never know

Personally I can't see him going anywhere near the 3 miler & I doubt Nicky will be trying to duck horses at Cheltenham. Fingal Bay has been impressive & clearly has a very bright future but he doesn't look unbeatable. Plenty of horses have reversed the form & better ground in March may help him do that. Supreme or Neptune I think but I just get the feeling he has something else in mind for the Supreme.

I'd go Neptune.  I've said in the other thread that I'd strongly fancy him to reverse the form with Fingal.

It was only his second ever hurdle race against a dual Graded novice hurdler.  He cruised all over him until the final flight, and would have learnt a lot.  Theres also the Challow record against fingal

Thanks for the input chaps, just scratching me head on this horse at the min, he looked like he was caught a bit flat footed behind fingal bay last time out but he kpt on all the way 2 line, I just like the way he traveled during that race which would suggest 2 me he would relish the fast pace of the supreme an he could use his stamina up the hill, as we saw last year nicky isn't afraid 2 run 2 or 3 in the race

I think this horse would be a massive player on day 1, he is visually the best horse i have seen in the hurdles division this yr, astonighing speed, but I suspect the trainer is desperate to run him in the Neptune given how much ammunition he has for the supreme whilst the only thing putting him off is the likely presence of Fingal Bay. It was a great run against Fingal, and Fingal may not be unbeatable, but he possibly did get a little outstayed and if they ground is tacky again I think  Fingal may grind himm down again. I would say there is almost no chnace he will run in the Friday novice.

Thats a good point Duncan... cant argue with that

Dont see the point of that Martin... he'll be bigger than that in whatever race he is put in when its decided imo.

For those who like Graham Cunningham, he said on his Sportinglife chat today

for those who like a bit of gossip rather than the form book, I am told that Henderson himself has a pretty strong feeling that Simonsig might well be the best from what is a very impressive bunch,

Can't wait to see this fella back out.

I heard (quite strong) he goes for the Neptune...

I've got 5er ew on supreme at 33
10er win the neptune at 25
10er win in the bartlett at 14

Hoping he goes for one fo the first two.  When NRNB comes in, I'll probably have £20 win in each race.

Probably peanuts for most people on here, but for me to have £30 on one horse at this stage is quite big for me

Don't think him winning points has any relevance on him needing a trip

Many a 2miler have had success in points

I remember ASK TOM beating SUNY BAY in a point

FINALLY A BRIEF UPDATE FROM NICKY HENDERSON ON RPTV, from his brief "Festival Update video"  (Same video as the one where he talks about Oscar Whisky Champion / World Hurdle dilemma

I've typed exactly what was said.

REPORTER : We saw Simonsig before looking fit and well.  Whats the news on him?

HENDERSON : Good.  Working away with him.  He'll have one more run before Cheltenham.  There'll just be a decision on which way he goes.  I mean its extraordinary how much pace he's got.  That day over 2 and a half at Sandown and joined Fingal Bay you'd say he was just in a different class to that horse.  For speed he's extraordinary, he has got a lot of natural speed and I wouldn't be frightened to come back to 2 with him.

Those were his exact words, and in the space of about 20 seconds he used the words pace and speed 3 times.

Reading that I'd say its all about the Supreme.  I saw on his trading history on here, there are two massive spikes for the Neptune not too long a go, whereas his price for the Supreme has remained rock solid.

Hope that helps

Whack him in the Supreme Nicky and leave the Neptune to Boston Bob. Cracking 194-1 double, on what is arguably a contingent event.

Got Broadbackbob for Neptune amongst few others as well.

I really don't think Nicky will be too worried about Fingal Bay. Cheltenham is where stars are born not in some little early season novice hurdle at Sandown. I think he will go Supreme or Neptune depending on what he's got for the race.

if Simonsig couldn't beat Fingal up the hill at Sandown I doubt he can reverse it going up a stiffer hill at Cheltenham. Fingal has already done it at Cheltenham so we KNOW he acts round there.  The supreme would be the one perhaps best for him but I fear he is in a right mess with knowing what to do with this one

never even thought of that as an angle but you could be right.  I have my opinion master has his, we pays are money and takes our choice.....thats the beauty of this game....at lets be honest what does our opinion mean right now......absolutely jack!!!

You put a good argument forward SS, but I'd have to agree with Masterminded on this one.

1. Fingal had already won 2 Grade 2 races when they faced each other that day; Simonsig had only had one egg and spoon race at Ascot.  There is masses and masses of improvement left in Simonsig in my opinion, because he could still have been a bit green.

2. Fingal has since come and won the Challow, but not in an impressive manner at all imo and his least impressive hurdle run to date.  Ok, he idled in front but if he does that at the Festival he'll lose.  It could be argued that there is more improvement over hurdles for Simonsig than Fingal (Fingal will be a great chaser imo).

3. If you use the Henderson Neptune stat, you can also use the Challow Hurdle winner stat which is equally as bad.

4. Hendo actually said in his interview on RPTV, "That day over 2 and a half at Sandown and joined Fingal Bay you'd say he was just in a different class to that horse".  Doesn't sound like the words of someone who is particulalry scared of him.

Based on all that, its pretty clear I think.....he should also swerve the Neptune!!

Supreme for me now (although I've said on here several times I think he should go Neptune).  He stays 2 and a half, and he has got great tactical speed and pace - the perfect blend for a Supreme winner imo.

It might be right that Darlan was Hendo's best bumper horse last year, but this fella was in Ireland, so can't really compare their bumper form.  All I know is that Michael O'Leary (Giggi stud) offered 100k for him last year as a bumper horse, and he got laughed at.

As you said mate, it's a game of opinions.  If every race was cut and dry we'd have nothing to talk about between September and March