Simon To Be Entered For The Boylesports.com Cashback Chase

The high-class Racing Post Chase winner Simon will be entered for the £100,000 Listed Boylesports.com Cashback Chase at Cheltenham on Friday, December 14, according to trainer John Spearing, who is hoping for more big-race success with his charge this term.

Simon captured a brace of top chases last season when victorious in the Listed Sky Bet Chase at Southwell in January and the Grade Three Racing Post Chase at Kempton the following month, under his regular pilot Andrew Thornton. He was also still in contention when falling at the 25th fence in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree in April.

The Mercy Rimell-owned eight-year-old made his seasonal return in the Grade Three Servo Computer Services Trophy over an extended three miles and three furlongs at Cheltenham on November 17, finishing fifth to Sir Rembrandt.

Spearing revealed yesterday: 'Simon will be entered in the Boylesports.com Cashback Chase and we will have a look to see what the opposition is like.

'He's fine after Cheltenham when I think he just probably needed the run a bit. We'll be happy if this rain continues - the softer the better - and hopefully we can have some more big days out this season with him.'

John Quinn has a plethora of jumping talent at his North Yorkshire yard this winter and the trainer is looking to secure a lucrative prize with Aleron this season, potentially in the Boylesports.com Cashback Chase.

Quinn revealed yesterday: 'Aleron is a possible for the Boylesports.com Cashback Chase. Character Building could have been a possible but had a hard enough race when third in the Hennessy so I wouldn't think he'd be going to Cheltenham and he's rather unlikely to run in the Welsh National either.'

Aleron, a smart hurdler who was fourth to Detroit City in the Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November, 2006, is in fine fettle at present, having secured his second chase success over an extended two and three quarter miles at Market Rasen in November, prior to finishing runner-up to Harmony Brig in the Listed Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on December 1.

The nine-year-old was staying on in the closing stages of the three-mile Newcastle contest, leaving the impression that the extended three miles and a furlong of the Boylesports.com Cashback Chase should be well within his scope.

Quinn continued: 'Aleron ran well in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle. I'm obviously not delighted to be second as we always like to win, but I'm happy with his performance. He ran a good, sound race and stayed on nicely at the finish.

'He doesn't want bottomless ground but he certainly wouldn't mind it on the soft side.'

Last year's renewal of the Boylesports.com Cashback Chase provided a real thrill for the festive crowd as the Alan King-trained D'Argent forged up the Cheltenham hill and held on determinedly to defeat New Alco and My Will by two rapidly diminishing short-heads.

The contest invariably attracts a host of high-class staying chasers and the 2005 running went to the Paul Nicholls-trained Royal Auclair, who had filled the runner-up berth in that year's John Smith's Grand National.