October 26 / 15.45 Newbury

15.45

Heavy

BetVictor St Simon Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £42532.5
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
BetVictor St Simon Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £23.00
  • Place: £4.30

Form: 6-2189 CD

Last run: 189 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Dual C&D Group 3 winner in 2022, on second occasion in this race on heavy going; has a mixed record since, for instance looking in good form for an AW handicap win this February but latest start (April; 16-1) denting his previous good record at this track; bang there if he's back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(6)

26th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Max Vega

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ralph Beckett

raced in second

10/1

9th

7

(9)

20th Apr 2024

Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:30 Newbury

Max Vega

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

prominent

20/1

9th

7

(9)

20th Apr 2024

Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:30 Newbury

Max Vega

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

prominent

20/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: -21369 BF

Last run: 98 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Wide-margin winner of a novice on soft in April; third in Lingfield Oaks Trial (11.6f, good) and sixth of 12 in the Group 2 Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) were both better form, but she was a disappointing favourite in Listed race (good to firm) in July; off since and needs to resume improvement on what's forecast to be her first encounter with heavy going.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(3)

23rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:15 York

Danielle

9st 2lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Likeable 5yo who signed off for last year with a demolition job on 17 rivals in Listed event at Doncaster (1m2f, heavy) in November; possibly ideally suited by the mud but drying ground should not inconvenience her unduly and she has made the frame in two Group 2 races over 1m6f; the one to beat if giving her running after a winter break.

8/11

5th

1

(8)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

14:45 Ascot

Danielle

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Best effort last season was over 1m4f on heavy ground in October and she's shown similar form in Group 2s over about 1m6f in her only two starts this term, keeping Waardah up to her work at Goodwood on first occasion; a fair bit extra will be needed from her if she's to win this.

14/1

4th

2

(9)

11th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 115y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Danielle

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Closely related to 2m4f Ascot Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami; best last term when second in 1m4f Newbury Group 3 (heavy) in October; unraced this season until her battling second in Group 2 at Goodwood six weeks ago on the step up to 1m6f; that's one of the best pieces of form in this line-up and she could build on it; a leading player from top stable which runs four.

5/2

OUR TIP

5/6

Form: 5-2112 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Six Group 3 wins (1m2f-1m5f) in total, with this season's in August at Glorious Goodwood and Newbury; first run on soft ground (unraced on heavy) for ages when creditable second of seven at Ascot (1m4f) three weeks ago, held up last and left with too much to do behind the front-running winner; huge shout if he's just as effective on heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(5)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Al Aasy

9st 2lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Held up; eight Group 3 wins are already in the bag, including this race in 2021 (his only appearance in it); has a slightly mixed reappearance record but he was almost as good as ever with his two wins last term, including first time out, and a return to that level would make this 9yo the one to beat.

5/2

9th

1

(4)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Al Aasy

9st 9lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: William Haggas

4-8 at Newbury but he was a below-form third in this race last year on heavy going (acts on soft); Sandown in April and Glorious Goodwood in August made it eight Group 3 wins now in total; held up as usual in Ireland last time but he did not get run of the race; the chance of heavy ground is far more of a concern but he has a leading form chance if the ground is okay.

11/2

5th

1

(6)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 4f 0y

15:50 Leopardstown

Al Aasy

9st 12lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: William Haggas

8yo finished second in this race two years ago and better form in recent years, now a winner of eight races at Group 3 level, including this term at Sandown (1m2f) and most recently last month's Glorious Goodwood Stakes, producing a tidy turn of foot in softish ground to win it for second consecutive year; sets a high standard.

6/4

Form: 11-5 C

Last run: 186 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Won by a head on debut at Newbury (7f, heavy) last September and followed up by a nose in Newmarket novice (1m, soft) the following month; put in his place when second favourite for Listed race at Epsom (1m2f) in April but maybe the good ground did not suit; gelded in May; his dam was a Listed-placed 1m4f winner and it's interesting to see him pitched in at this high level on today's belated second run this season; stable runs three.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(6)

7th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 3f 179y

Class 3

17:02 Leicester

Feigning Madness

10st 1lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Lightly raced since winning both races at two; ran okay in two Group 3s to start this season but has struggled to land a blow in 2m4f/1m6f handicaps the last twice; in calmer waters here but with a bit to prove.

10/1

8th

9

(2)

2nd Aug 2025

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

13:55 Goodwood

Feigning Madness

9st 1lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

4yo who has had only seven races and acts on any going; fourth in 1m4f Group 3 at Newbury on reappearance hinted he may have staying potential; although running creditably, his subsequent 2m Group 3 and 2m4f Royal Ascot handicap didn't really prove his stamina and he now has his first go at 1m6f; whatever his ideal trip may be, he needs some improvement.

12/1

11th

6

(14)

17th Jun 2025

Good

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Feigning Madness

9st 9lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

4yo who has had only six races; keeping on for fourth over 1m4f at Newbury (good) on 2025 reappearance hinted he may have staying potential; that wasn't confirmed over 2m here (good to firm) later in April, in his third Group 3, but that was a slowly run race and this is his first handicap.

28/1

6/1

Form: -36246

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Seems to need ground softer than good, and acts on heavy; went close in Group 3 over C&D in April and short-headed in 1m6f Listed race at York in June; however, his other three runs this season were disappointing and he was 12l behind Al Aasy at Ascot (soft) three weeks ago; blinkers go on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(9)

2nd Apr 2025

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

19:15 Gowran Park

Salt Bay

9st 5lb

J: W J Lee

T: Henry De Bromhead

towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

100/30

7th

7

(9)

2nd Apr 2025

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

19:15 Gowran Park

Salt Bay

9st 5lb

J: W J Lee

T: Henry De Bromhead

towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

100/30

7th

13

9th Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

1m 7f 150y

13:40 Navan

Salt Bay

11st 12lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

in touch with leaders, weakened gradually from 2 out

11/4

Form: 450234

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Acts on heavy; soundly beaten in the Derby on fourth run this season; has since run well for minor honours in a Listed race and two Group 3s, but Al Aasy went past him without difficulty at Ascot (soft) three weeks ago and they reoppose on the same terms today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(4)

26th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Gods Window

9st 0lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: John & Thady Gosden

led at steady pace

14/1

4th

8

(5)

5th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

14:25 Ascot

Gods Window

9st 0lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: John & Thady Gosden

slowly away, towards rear

12/1

3rd

5

(3)

7th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 1

14:35 Kempton (AW)

Gods Window

8st 13lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: John & Thady Gosden

Twice a winner on soft and third in last October's 2yo Group 1 on heavy at Doncaster; soundly beaten in the Derby on fourth run this season; first-time cheekpieces and back near the Doncaster form when second of five in Listed race at Hamilton (1m3f, good) in July on latest outing but he has something to find with the comfortable winner Kalpana; makes AW debut.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £90.60
Straight Forecast £84.37
Trifecta £207.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Aasy

NEWMARKET:

Danielle

The Guardian:

Max Vega

The Star:

Feigning Madness

Telegraph:

Danielle

Daily Mail:

Max Vega

RP RATINGS:

Al Aasy

TOPSPEED:

Al Aasy

POSTDATA:

Al Aasy

The Times:

Al Aasy

D Express:

Al Aasy

Daily Mirror:

Al Aasy

The Sun:

Al Aasy

Daily Record:

Al Aasy