Nicky Henderson has confirmed that Simonsig will make his long-awaited comeback in the Betfred Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday.
The nine-year-old was last seen winning the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham in March 2013 and will return after 970 days on the sidelines in Liverpool this weekend.
The son of Fair Mix has suffered a plethora of niggling injuries since that success and has been unable to add to his eight wins.
The decision has been taken to ease him back over hurdles and Henderson sees no reason why he, along with a couple of stablemates, should not get a run-out on Merseyside.
“Simonsig will run in the two-and-a-half-mile condition hurdle at Aintree on Saturday,” he told At The Races. “That is the plan. We did have him in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, but I just think a run over hurdles will do him good.
“I think if the ground is on the easy side Top Notch could run as well and I’ve even got Bobs Worth in the race as well.
“Simonsig is a definite runner at the moment.”