Simonsig gets job done in Arkle

Simonsig overcame some sticky jumping to land the odds in the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham.

Barry Geraghty's mount was far from fluent early on and made one bad mistake down the back straight.

He travelled supremely well, however, and took over from long-time leader Overturn entering the straight.

Baily Green came through to chase the 8/15 favourite and despite trying hard never looked like pegging back the hotpot, going down by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

Arvika Ligeonniere, who had helped cut out the early running, faded from the fourth last.

“It was harder than I thought,” admitted Geraghty afterwards on Channel 4.

“The ground was dead and maybe that didn't help and he missed one down the back which is unlike him.

“He was very good two out but was tight again at the last. He rallied really well in fairness to him and it was a good performance.”

Trainer Nicky Henderson added:- “He was just too fresh and did really well to win running with the choke out the whole way.

“Over the first three fences they were going quick but he was wanting to go even quicker.

“We've always said he's not short of pace but he needs to learn to drop it a little bit.

“He hasn't run purposely since before Christmas in fairness. He probably ran a bit too fresh and keen and was really concentrating on what was going on.

"He made one bad mistake. The rest of it he was just going a bit too quick for his own good.

"He's just had three runs now and there's another race in him this year, I would have thought. We'll give Aintree some consideration. He's a two-miler, but he'll learn to settle - he's got to."

McCain blamed the ground for Overturn's below-par display, saying: "Jason (Maguire) said he was never giving him the same feel as usual, never taking him forward as he can.

"The jockeys said after the first it was good to soft, which for a Flat-bred horse like him, is soft. It was tacky and holding as well.

"With a meeting like this you tend to get carried away and think maybe you'll get away with it. There is, after all only Cheltenham, but in future we'll follow the ground and go where it is suitable.

"We'll look at Aintree and Punchestown. He hasn't really disappointed us - he's still a magic horse."