Betfair Super Saturday Chase: No point opposing Simon

Simonsig should be exceptionally hard to beat

On a strong Betfair-sponsored card, Tony McFadden examines the Betfair Super Saturday Chase, a race better known as the Game Spirit...

Following the same path trod by Sprinter Sacre on his way to Arkle glory, Nicky Henderson's exciting chasing prospect Simonsig will briefly step out of novice company to contest the Grade 2 Betfair Super Saturday Chase, although, looking at his potential rivals, don't expect his credentials to be rigorously examined.

Simonsig was, of course, the outstanding novice hurdler last year, storming up the hill to register success with remarkable ease in the Neptune at the Cheltenham Festival, and he has created a startling impression over fences, breezing to two wide-margin wins, decimating a useful sort in Hinterland with a powerful front-running display at Kempton last time. That performance rates as the strongest piece of form in the race and it is well worth noting that Simonsig retains the 'Timeform large P', indicating that he is capable of producing a significantly better performance if required.

For all stepping out of novice company should theoretically provide a new challenge to Simonsig, in truth it is difficult to see any of his potential rivals posing much of a threat, the race having attracted a mix of solid handicappers and below top-class graded performers with questions to answer.

On paper, Wishfull Thinking is probably the biggest danger. A high-class chaser at his best, Phillip Hobbs's charge created a great impression during his novice campaign in the 2010/11 season, jumping boldly under aggressive rides to win at Aintree and Punchestown. However, a recurring breathing problem has since plagued his progress and he is probably the only horse in training that would be odds-against versus Grands Crus in a 'hold your breath the longest' contest. It is rare to see a horse fold as tamely as Wishfull Thinking did at Kempton last time and he makes limited appeal on the back of such an effort.

French Opera is another horse with questions to answer on Saturday. A winner of this race two years ago, French Opera was faced with an impossible task when bidding to defend his crown, asked to give weight to Sprinter Sacre. He produced a creditable performance, sticking to his task well and seeing off everything bar his supremely-talented stablemate, but his three subsequent efforts have been less encouraging. A faller when held in the Grand Annual, French Opera finished his season in the Celebration Chase at Sandown, never threatening to repeat his success of the previous year. Worryingly, he was also well below his best on his return in the Peterborough Chase and there are serious doubts as to whether the 10-year-old will ever be able to recapture the best of his form.

Nicky Henderson could add a third string to his bow in the form of Tanks For That and, while he needs to bounce back from a disappointing reappearance at Ascot, it is not inconceivable that he could bag a place, his second in last year's Grand Annual off a BHA mark of 149 representing solid form. His disappointing return at Ascot is forgivable in light of the extreme conditions, and the 11-week break he has been given by connections to recover from those exertions is likely to be of benefit to a horse with such a good record fresh.

Paul Nicholls has won this race in the past with superstars such as Azertyuiop and Master Minded, and this year's representatives, Edgardo Sol and Shooters Wood, though lacking the quality of their illustrious stablemates, are solid propositions that can be relied upon to give their running, something which cannot be said of Wishfull Thinking and French Opera.

Edgardo Sol boasts the strongest form of the Nicholls pair, his Red Rum Chase victory at Aintree, where he achieved a Timeform rating of 157, capping off a successful year of switching between hurdles and fences. Though slightly below the level of his Aintree win this term, Edgardo Sol ran perfectly respectably to finish third at an exalted level behind Sizing Europe and Ruby Light at Leopardstown and he is likely to make a bold bid to reach the frame.

Shooters Wood has plenty to find on the figures but it would be a mistake to completely dismiss the steadily-progressive nine-year-old. Trying to account for his improvement at this relatively late stage, it is worth noting that he is lightly raced for his age and only switched to the Paul Nicholls yard in the summer. He enters this contest on the back of two Cheltenham handicap victories, characterised by impeccable rounds of jumping, and it is likely that he will continue on his upward curve. Simonsig should prove to be far too good, but Shooters Wood's bold jumping and likeable attitude will give him a good chance of being the grey's closest pursuer.

This race has been stated as the chosen target for Simonsig, but trainers reserve the right to change their mind- an option Nicky Henderson often chooses to exercise- and it may be worth waiting until the final declarations before taking the odds-on. As things stand, there isn't much liquidity in the ante-post market, but Simonsig has been matched at 1.51/2, a price that would look absolutely massive if you could obtain it on the day, considering the horse's potential and dearth of creditable opponents. Shooters Wood can chase him home at a respectable distance.

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