Timeform taken with Simonsig Timeform feel Simonsig is comfortably the main threat to stablemate Sprinter Sacre's domination of the two-mile chasing scene. The dashing grey was unbeaten in three races over fences last season, earning a Timeform master rating of 166P. That mark has only been bettered by nine first season chasers in the 38-year history of Chasers & Hurdlers, which is available now. His victory in the Racing Post Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival didn't impress everyone but the Halifax-based firm feel he deserves great credit for recording an above-average performance to win the race - despite taking a keen hold to post and a fierce grip through the race. In their essay Timeform argue: "Given those circumstances, it clearly reflects well on Simonsig that he still seemed set to draw away when hitting the front between the third and second-last, which he jumped really well. Baily Green stayed on, however, and the idling Simonsig had to be kept up to his work on the run-in. Simonsig won by two and a quarter lengths, with Baily Green pulling thirteen lengths clear of another outsider His Excellency in third. Overturn finished a further fifteen lengths behind in fourth and Arvika Ligeonniere was pulled up. "Simonsig's performance may have come as an anti-climax to some but, judged strictly on form, it was still markedly above average for an Arkle, on a par with those recorded in the last twenty runnings by Travado, Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop and Tidal Bay, and bettered significantly in the race in that period only by Sprinter Sacre." Timeform remain very excited about Simonsig's potential for the years to come. "Simonsig has started at 9/2-on, 6/1-on and 15/8-on in his three steeplechases so far and he looks to be some chaser in the making. He will necessarily face tougher tasks in his second season over fences, considerably tougher if he takes on his prodigious stablemate Sprinter Sacre, but he is one of the most exciting prospects steeplechasing has had for years and there is no reason to amend the opinion expressed in the previous edition of this Annual that he is 'a horse for whom the sky is truly the limit."
