Simonsig steps up Cheltenham bid

The Nicky Henderson-trained grey has not been seen since giving Fingal Bay a fright at Sandown in early December, but there appears plenty of confidence behind the point-to-point winner. Marsh Warbler, Brian Ellison’s five-year-old chestnut, has a higher official rating than Simonsig, and was a Grade One winner as a juvenile.

Knockara Beau, trained by George Charlton, was not disgraced behind Midnight Chase at Cheltenham last time over fences and reverts to hurdles. Local Hero had looked promising for Steve Gollings last season, but found things tough once upped in class. He has not run since finishing fifth behind Zarkandar at Aintree last April. The John Wade-trained Little Hercules and Michael Smith’s Orsippus complete the six runners. Henderson has decided to send his charge on the long journey north from Lambourn due to a lack of suitable opportunities. The trainer said: “There are virtually no races left for him and I want him to run before Cheltenham, so this makes sense.”

At Ayr yesterday, Lady Luck shone on Buffalo Bob as he secured his first victory since November 2010 in the Play Casino At BetVictor.com Handicap Chase Ayr. Kim Bailey’s nine-year-old has recently run well in some decent handicaps, including when third over the National fences in the Grand Sefton Chase a couple of months ago, and this represented a drop in grade. Jason Maguire was happy to blaze a trail on the 2-1 favourite, who was sporting a visor for the first time, and he only had Charingworth and Categorical to worry about once they straightened up for home. But Castleford Chase winner Charingworth looked set to collect another decent prize when sweeping by the leader at the third-last, only to slither on landing at the next and send Lucy Alexander over his head. This left Buffalo Bob back in the lead once again and he was ridden out to beat Categorical by 15 lengths.

Meanwhile, Lexus Chase winner Synchronised has been allotted top weight of 11st 10lb for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree. The nine-year-old, who is trained by Jonjo O’Neill and owned by JP McManus, landed the Leopardstown Grade One over Christmas to supplement his previous win in the Welsh National.

Next on the list is last year’s winner, the Donald McCain-trained Ballabriggs, who shouldered 11st to victory but will be saddled with 11st 9lb should he line up on April 14. Neil Mulholland’s Midnight Chase and another McCain contender, Weird Al, both sit on 11st 8lb while Nicky Henderson’s Burton Port and Willie Mullins’ Irish Hennessy winner Quel Esprit are on 11st 7lb. The Henrietta Knight-trained Calgary Bay and Paul Nicholls’ Neptune Collonges are both on 11st 6lb while John Hanlon’s Alfa Beat and Philip Hobbs’ Planet Of Sound have been allotted 11st 5lb. The David Pipe-trained Junior, the 14-1 market leader, failed to get in the field last year but has a certain place in 2012 with 11st 2lb.

Irish-trained raiders have a tremendous recent record in the Grand National, winning six of the last 13 runnings, and they have strength in numbers this year, accounting for 31 entries. Along with Quel Esprit, Mullins has Thyestes Chase winner On His Own (10st 11lb), Blazing Tempo, the only mare entered, (11st 4lb), Apt Approach (11st 1lb), Scotsirish (11st 2lb) and Prince De Beauchene (10st 6lb) among his 12 possibles.

Other notable contenders include Henderson’s other pair of Shakalakaboomboom (10st 12lb) and Quantitativeeasing (11st 2lb) while Mon Mome, who sprang a 100-1 surprise in the 2009 Grand National, has been given 10st 8lb this time. The rapidly-improving Hold On Julio, who has won both his starts for trainer Alan King, has been given 10st 7lb, while his stablemate West End Rocker, winner of the Betfred Becher Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree on December 3, has a weight of 10st 12lb. William Hill spokeswoman Lucy Rhodes admitted the bookmakers are braced for another gamble on Ballabriggs (now 16-1), while Junior heads their betting 12-1. “With the McCain family tree and previous winners performing well in subsequent attempts, surely Ballabriggs holds a real chance,” she said.