I see that the forum’s favourite trainer, our sports shining star and its most instantly recognisable figure, Mr Henderson, has Simonsig entered in a 20 furlong handicap hurdle at Aintree on Friday evening as the great man looks to get the 9YO back on the track. However, perhaps more intriguing is the news that he has also put Simonsig through the stalls at home and has in the back of his mind a plan to race him on the level this Flat term. Mr Henderson does, of course, have a great record when he’s on the level and you only have to look at Lieutenant Miller to see how he can transfer an old boys attention to a different sphere with spectacular results. He didn’t run on the Flat until he was almost 7 and in the space of 12 months went onto be a dual winner and got placed at Royal Ascot, ‘Glorious’ Goodwood and in the old Cesarewitch. One of the training performances of our age that I’ve always thought. It must also, of course, be noted that Simonsig is way, way classier than the Lieutenant as his highest NH perch is 160 compared to the latter’s 121. Has Simonsig got it in his locker to be a ‘Cup’ horse or a top class handicapper (he obviously needs a perch first, of course) on the level??? What do we think??? Personally, I can’t see why not if Mr Henderson gives him the ‘go ahead’. But whatever happens the one thing you can be certain of is that he could not be in better hands. Or should that be better ‘magic hands’. What, what?!?
Looks like Aintree on Friday is going to come too soon for the old boy with Mr Henderson reporting that Simonsig needs ‘a good 10 days’ before he will be ready. His return, be it over timber or on the level, remains imminent however...
I read this last week and was most excited to see this he certainly the pace for a gold cup and longer my reasons why I thnk he could be a very good season over the flat- I like a few people on here always felt he should have run in the champion hurdle the year he won the Arkle (I think it was) was a wide open hurdke but look at the grand horse that is overturn has a chester cup to his name and a Northumberland placing at the very least and look at Simenon a gold cup placing to his and Simonsig first of all had just the one season over hurdles and was on the Official ratings rated 153 and then chasing 162 Overturn on the other hand was rated 164 over hurdles and 150 over chasing you could argue that the two never reached the full potential over hurdles and chasing respectively coz of going to chasing and injury but you could argue that Simonsig looked to hve overall more potential then overturn not just chasing which he showed when beating him 15l in the Arkle and that was don't forget a not fully fit Simonsig but Overturn Imo would have quite a bit find with Simonsig over hurdles plus giving weight to him anyway i am going off the point on the flat Overturn was rated round the 102 mark which was enough to win a chester cup placed in the one the next year and also a Northumberland plate on the comparison on jump rsting which u can only go on Simonsig is more than capable of running to that Mark and higher now Simenon second in a gold cup off a mark of 108 and granted you need to be in the 112+ to win a gold cup he could defitnately run into a place look at Wicklow brave this weekend of a mark of 80 odd but Imo ran like a 100+ rated horse and again on hurdle form who would u rather have! Only worry is how big Simonsig is he needs a big wide galloping track like Ascot if he was on Epsom Chester track they arnt easy for a big 17hh + horse like he is. Anyway hope that makes sense
Was on my phone, commuting back from work hence the lack of punctuation haha plus I had so much I wanted to say and
Difference is Overturn was a strong sturdy horse, whilst Simonsig has been anything but. Looks like desperation stakes and i would say retire him if he isn't sound enough to race.
Now, now, Nassau, ‘In Mr Henderson we trust’ and all that. If he says ‘let’s go’ who are we mere country boys to object?!? Of course the switch from NH to Flat doesn’t always work. Last term they tried it with the 169 rated Menorah and he did about as well as ‘New’ Labour last week. Actually that’s a disservice to Pip Hobbs’ star – he didn’t do that bad! Another that Mr Henderson has revitalised by switching him back to the level is Forgotten Voice. Strangely monikered beast that as who could ever forget Mr Henderson’s dulcet tones. Anyway, since switching the old boy back to the Flat as an 8YO he’s won at Royal Ascot, ‘Glorious’ Gooders and been placed in some quality events. The one of Mr Henderson’s that I always wanted to see on the level was My Tent or Yours. He was far too keen, on many occasions, over hurdles and I always felt that the faster pace of 12 furlongs on the Flat would have been ideal. They would have gone fast enough for him over such a distance and I really could have seen him travelling and then quickening in devastating style. I don’t think it ridiculous to say he would have been a genuine Group 3 or Group 2 horse at 12 furlongs, if not even better. There was talk after My Tent or Yours’ novice year that he would come back from his summer hols early and run in something like Newbury’s ‘Geoffrey Freer’. Never happened though and I suspect it was because his owner, who had a ‘thing’ for his then retained rider over jumps, didn’t want to break the bad news to him that he’d lost the ride due to the switch of codes. Nor would he have wanted anyone else winning aboard the animal and slobbering over any other pilot in the winner’s enclosure. That chap though has now retired, I understand. Can’t even remember his name. At a much, much, much, much, much, much, much, and I do mean much, much, much, much, much, much, much lower level than Mr Henderson I see that Bill Mullins has hinted, on a few occasions, that he plans to run Arctic Fire back on Flat this year. Be interesting to see how he fares. 50/1 is available for the Melbourne Cup.
Sir Barney, question, when N.Henderson eventually retires, who will you select as your new Hossracing "Zeus"?
Not going to grace a racecourse for a bit longer it would appear. Mr Henderson said a few days ago that Simonsig will have a ‘short break’ and then he’ll formulate a new plan. The latest big jumps to Flat success story seems to be Clever Cookie after his recent Group 3/Listed race double. Looks sure to be perched on 110+ after Saturday success and now receiving single figure quotes for The Gold Cup.
I’m sure this will come as a huge shock to you, Swanny (as I bet you think Mr Henderson is in his late 30’s or early 40’s), but in December the forum’s favourite trainer will receive his bus pass! The day he retires will be a very, very sad day and I do wonder if the sport will survive his departure. There will never be another 'zeus' like him, I'm afraid.
To be honest, Sir Barney, I thought he was crowding 60, and was surprised to see he was born in 1950. Knew he'd been in the business a long time, but was again surprised that it was in 1978 that he started training. Carries his age very well, must say.
Far be it of me to suggest otherwise Sir Barney, but your adulation of the 'chosen one' seems to bear a very uncanny resemblance to a one Ronnie Corbett... You never see them together now do you...
Here is a quick photo of the great trainer himself ... at a pre-Cheltenham forum ... despite his rosey nose and redolent complexion I can confirm he was on the wagon all night !...
