Henderson relieved after Simonsig stroll

Simonsig drained the pressure from a tense Nicky Henderson with a flawless novice chasing initiation at Ascot yesterday.

Already one of the marquee names in a stable overflowing with stars, the powerful grey is now an even shorter favourite for next year’s Arkle after his emphatic victory in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at the previous Cheltenham Festival.

It soon became a matter of Simonsig (2-9 favourite) against the fences, as three of his four rivals in the Grade Two Betfred Novices’ Chase departed at the first two obstacles entering the final circuit, and Sulpius was soon struggling to keep pace himself.