The National Hunt season is fully underway and tomorrow Aintree plays host to big stars from Seven Barrows.
The eagerly anticipated return of dual-festival winner Simonsig is boosted by former Gold Cup hero Bobs Worth‘s participation in the Betfred Hurdle at Aintree.
It has been 970 days since Simonsig won the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham and he now bids for a successful return over 2m 4f under regular pilot Barry Geraghty.
Henderson said: “I’m very happy with him and the idea behind running him over hurdles it just to try and get some of that freshness out of him.”
“This looked a good place to start, but I would have preferred a bigger field as the idea was to get him to settle and there’s not going to be much cover with just the five runners.”
Gold Cup winning jockey and regular work rider Nico De Boinville takes the reins on Bobs Worth, who when last seen over hurdles took the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in 2011.
Bobs Worth has not won a race since the Lexus Chase of 2013, and has subsequently disappointed in his last three starts.
Trainer Nicky Henderson has earmarked a crack at regaining the Hennessey Gold Cup and a pipe opener over hurdles may be the fitness boost he needs.
“Bobs (Worth) is in good form and I was always quite keen to give him a run over hurdles first time out,” said the Seven Barrows handler.
“The trip will be on the short side for him, but it’s a good place for him to start on nice ground and hopefully it will lead him nicely into the Hennessy.”
