Simon may head for Cheltenham feature

Jan 21 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

LEADING John Smith’s Grand National fancy Simon may head to Cheltenham to take on the top chasers following the abandonment of the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

John Spearing’s nine-year-old, who is a best-priced 20-1 with Coral for the Aintree showpiece on April 5, was due to run in Saturday’s Grade Two contest before heavy rain put paid to the meeting at the Merseyside track.

Simon is entered in this weekend’s Grade Two Letheby & Christopher Chase, and would face last year’s winner Exotic Dancer among others.

Spearing said: “I’m going to enter him at Cheltenham on Saturday. I’ll have a look and see what else is likely to go. There aren’t many other places to go at the minute. You never know your luck.”

Simon is owned and bred by retired trainer Mercy Rimell, wife of the late Fred, who holds the training record with Ginger McCain for the most Grand National wins.

Simon, who won the Skybet and Racing Post Chases last season, could bid to improve on his run in the National last April when he fell at Valentines on the second circuit.

First, though, connections are considering a return to Cheltenham, where he was second on his last visit to Over The Creek.

In this Saturday’s 3m1f race Exotic Dancer is likely to be ridden again by Barry Geraghty, who will deputise for the injured champion jockey Tony McCoy.

Geraghty rode the Jonjo O’Neill-trained chaser to finish a half-length second to Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November when McCoy had to ride for boss JP McManus at Ascot on the same day.

Barry Simpson, racing manager to Exotic Dancer’s owner Sir Robert Odgen, said: “I haven’t spoken with Jonjo yet but I believe Barry Geraghty will be available. He’s ridden him before, so he’s very much in the frame.”

Ogden could have two runners in the race, as the Paul Nicholls-trained Star De Mohaison will be entered in the Cheltenham feature, although his participation is dependent on the state of the ground.

Simpson added: “It’s a possibility we might have run him as well, but the ground is going to be pretty testing. We will probably look for something else, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be entering him as well and seeing how the week goes.

“I’ve got to discuss it further with Paul but I suppose he’s unlikely to run because of the ground unless something changes drastically.

“He’s got three other alternatives – the Aon Chase, the Irish Hennessy and the race at Wincanton that was the Countrymen’s Chase. They would be the three alternatives if he didn’t go next week.”

The BHB will today decide if any of the Grade Two contests lost at Haydock can be switched to any of the upcoming meetings, although the Peter Marsh Chase is unlikely to be one of them, with the Letheby & Christopher Chase being of a similar grade and nature to that race.

Meanwhile, Point Barrow will need to defy top weight in the Ellen Construction Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park this Thursday, as trainer Pat Hughes ponders a return to Aintree.

The 2006 Irish Grand National winner got no further than the first fence when sent off one of the favourites for the Aintree showpiece last April. And the 10-year-old is yet to sparkle in four runs this term.

But Hughes was pleased with his last run when staying on 13th behind Newbay Prop in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown.

Point Barrow is generally a 25-1 chance to triumph at Aintree this year and despite his spill on his last visit could make a return to Merseyside if all goes well.

Hughes said: “He’s definitely coming on all the time and improving, he’s getting there. The ground will be very heavy, if it’s on.

“I’ve been very happy with him since his last run.

“After the Thyestes, I’ll find a race over a bit further, about three and a half or something. I’ll aim him at one of those and then hopefully he’ll go for the English or the Irish National.”

TODAY’S NAP: Come Bye (3.40pm Folkestone)