Simonsig camp play the long game

Nicky Henderson finally admitted defeat in attempting to get Simonsig to the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

The Seven Barrows handler said on Saturday asking Simonsig to return in such a white-hot atmosphere might not be best for the horse in the long run, and that he would prefer to give him a racecourse gallop over the Festive period.

That course of action remains a possibility, but Henderson’s main aim is to get the unbeaten chaser to the Cheltenham Festival in March.