Simonsig shows his Supreme potential

Simonsig set himself up for a tilt at the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with a convincing win in the BetVictor Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso.

Nicky Henderson’s imposing grey has been backed into favourite for the Cheltenham event over two miles, but has already won a point-to-point over three miles.

He gave Fingal Bay a fright on his last start, but Henderson was forced to send him on the long trip from Lambourn due to a lack of opportunities down south.

Having raced keenly under Barry Geraghty for the first mile, Simonsig (2-7 favourite) tracked the leader Knockara Beau into the straight, but an untidy jump two out did not help him.

He was soon back on the bridle, though, and Geraghty did not move a muscle as the grey eased two and a quarter lengths clear of Knockara Beau, with Local Hero third. BetVictor trimmed Simonsig a couple of points into 6-1 from 8s for the Supreme, and go 12s from 8s for the Neptune over five furlongs farther.

Henderson also struck in the first two races with the Trevor Hemmings-owned debutant Lyvius (4-6 favourite) in the Berrymoss Novices’ Hurdle and Bellvano (5-4 favourite) in the Kelso Members Novices’ Chase.

Today is Musselburgh’s final jumps meeting of the season, and the finale marks one of the East Lothian course’s most successful National Hunt seasons to date.

It’s the first time Musselburgh has staged nine meetings and only suffered one abandonment due to weather, compared to three the previous year.

Total attendance sits at more than 11,000 before tomorrow’s meeting, compared to just over 8000 last season and crowds are up by five per cent on the five corresponding fixtures held in 2010/11 and 2011/12. The racecourse is also ending the season on a high following its successful John Smith’s Scottish Cheltenham Trials last weekend.

A combination of factors, including severe winter weather across most of the UK which hit other courses, favoured Musselburgh and it was the only UK jumps course in action over the weekend.

Musselburgh general manager, Bill Farnsworth, said: “From the disappointment of having to abandon the John Smith’s meeting on 5 February, Lady Luck shone on us and we were able to stage an additional fixture which grabbed all the headlines.

“It was a great opportunity to showcase the quality of horses and trainers which have made this meeting a genuine trials fixture for the Spring festivals proper at Cheltenham and Aintree.”