Limited options for Simon

John Spearing is mulling over the limited options for Simon following his seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The stayer, owned and bred by former trainer Mercy Rimell, ran well for a long way until lack of race fitness saw him fade into fifth place behind Sir Rembrandt.

Now there are just two realistic targets for the eight-year-old before the end of the year, the WBX.com Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on December 1 or the Coral Welsh National on December 27.

“He ran well but he went rather the long way round though,” said Spearing.

“He needed the run a bit, he always does first time out, and he would have preferred it softer.

“We haven’t discussed plans yet. He was entered in the Welsh National this morning, but I don’t know with his rating.

“There’s that and the Rehearsal Chase. Those are the only chases he can run in before January, so he might go for one of the two.”

Last season, Simon won the Racing Post Chase at Kempton before falling at the Valentines on the second circuit in the Grand National.