November 03 / 13.25 Newmarket

13.25

Heavy

Betfred St Simon Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £34026
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfred St Simon Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

10/11 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 12-111 D

Last run: 91 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Pipped by Max Vega at level weights in this race at Newbury (unraced at Newmarket) last year on heavy; six Group 3 wins in total now following three more in an unbeaten 2023 campaign at Chester (1m5f), York (1m6f) and Goodwood (1m4f) and he looks set for another bold show.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(8)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Hamish

9st 6lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

9yo who's won a hatful of Group 3s at 1m4f-1m6f in his long and distinguished career, one over C&D; beaten a head in this race on heavy going in 2022; produced a rather disappointing show in Ascot Group 3 three weeks ago but had Listed wins over Military Academy and Mount Atlas earlier this term and holds a major chance if returning to form.

7/2

2

(2)

4th Oct 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

14:25 Ascot

Hamish

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

9yo who's won a hatful of Group 3s at 1m4f-1m6f in his long and distinguished career, including this race in 2022; also won 1m4f Listed races on last three outings, including in a good scrap involving Military Academy at Goodwood in June and when that rival disappointed at Chester three weeks ago; all of his turf starts in the last six years have been on softer than good; back up to Group 3 but with leading form claims again and a tremendous attitude.

7/4

1

(2)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 1

14:05 Chester

Hamish

9st 8lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

9yo who's won a hatful of Group 3s over 1m4f-1m6f in his long and distinguished career, including two Ormondes over the extended 1m5f here; also won 1m4f Listed races at the Curragh (yielding) last November and Goodwood (soft; by a neck from Military Academy at level weights) this June, which were his last two outings; all of his turf starts in the last six years have been on softer than good, so rain may be needed.

10/11

4/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 5-0011 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Often used to front-run but hasn't since last July; absent nearly six months before career-best form on last two starts, winning a Listed race at Chester (1m4f, good to soft) and Group 3 at Ascot (1m4f, good); best form last term was in France on officially very soft; probably needs to find a bit extra still but he needs plenty of respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(8)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Al Qareem

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Justified favouritism in Listed grade at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft) on seasonal debut, making it five wins from his last nine starts and taking overall record to 13-36; Chester record reads 112, most recently running creditably in this race 12 months ago; again likely to give his running.

9/1

1st

1

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-runner who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins; the four last season (April-October) included career-best form; unraced here; has never won first time out but he has run creditably and is the clear form pick.

4/5

1

(5)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

12:55 Ascot

Al Qareem

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-running 6yo who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins now to his credit, including three of his four starts at Ascot; latest was over 1m4f two weeks ago, with three 1m6f wins earlier this season; he's never been at his best over this far, admittedly with stiff tasks but it's hard to ignore that Trawlerman gave him 3lb and a comprehensive beating at York in August.

12/1

Form: 111642 C

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Goodwood Listed win (1m2f, good to firm) in May is his peak form; off the bridle some way out at Royal Ascot when failing to complete a five-timer; cheekpieces on both starts since, back near his best when second in another Goodwood Listed race (1m2f, soft) on latest; needs to be in top form and not having raced beyond 10.4f gives him a bit to prove, but there's a fair chance he'll stay on pedigree and he ran on well last time; form player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(4)

29th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:50 Newmarket (July)

King Of Conquest

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

towards rear, switched left over 4f out, nudged along and headway over 3f out

11/8

1st

3

(4)

9th Jun 2024

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

17:05 Goodwood

King Of Conquest

9st 3lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

1m2f Listed race here (good to firm) last May was the last leg in a four-timer; no joy in his seven races since but he was pipped in Group 3 at Newbury (1m4f, good) on latest, form which gives him a big chance.

6/4

2nd

5

(9)

18th May 2024

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Newbury

King Of Conquest

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Won a 1m2f Goodwood Listed (good to firm) last May and also placed in 1m4f Newmarket Group 3 (heavy) on final 4-y-o start; below that level in his two outings this year, though he suffered interference when 7l fifth of sixth in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket (1m4f) latest.

8/1

12/1

Form: 1-3639 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
The latest of his three Group 3 wins was this race at Newbury last year on heavy going by a head from Hamish at level weights; not quite at the same level this term but much the same could have been said going into last year's St Simon (he started 22-1) and he needs a close look.
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

Form: -33824

Last run: 50 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Hasn't added to her soft-ground 2yo win; ran very well in Group 3 at Newbury (1m5f, good to soft) in August, coming from off the pace to finish a clear second behind the subsequent St Leger runner-up Arrest; 1m6f seemingly did not help on latest start but her form case rests solely on the Geoffrey Freer run and even that leaves her with work to do.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(9)

3rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Newmarket (July)

Ching Shih

9st 9lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: David Simcock

held up in rear

14/1

11th

1

(2)

20th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

18:35 Newmarket (July)

Ching Shih

9st 6lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: David Simcock

Losing spell goes back to her 2yo win but she couldn't have gone much closer to putting that right in Listed race at Pontefract (1m4f, good to firm) four weeks ago, going down by a nose (reopposing Divina Grace was third); claims if in similar form but she does have a bit of an in-and-out profile.

12/1

2nd

3

(10)

23rd Jun 2024

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 1

15:00 Pontefract

Ching Shih

9st 2lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: David Simcock

Losing spell goes back to her 2yo win; respectable third in this race last year but has a question mark over current form; comfortably held in both outings this term.

12/1

10/1

Form: -52993 C

Last run: 62 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Went close in the 2021 Irish Derby; not so good since and soundly beaten in this race last year on his sole run on heavy going; second to Hamish at Chester (1m5f, soft) in May is clearly the best of his five runs for new yard this season; his next two runs were admittedly Group 1s but Chester Listed race last time gives him lots to find.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(2)

3rd Nov 2023

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:25 Newmarket

Lone Eagle

9st 6lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Went close in the 2021 Irish Derby; not so good since and soundly beaten in this race last year on his sole run on heavy going; second to Hamish at Chester (1m5f, soft) in May is clearly the best of his five runs for new yard this season; his next two runs were admittedly Group 1s but Chester Listed race last time gives him lots to find.

10/1

3rd

1

(6)

2nd Sep 2023

Good To Soft

1m 6f 87y

Class 1

15:20 Chester

Lone Eagle

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Went close in the 2021 Irish Derby for previous yard; not so good since but second of six in the 1m5f Group 3 Ormonde here (soft) in May was clearly his best result this term; tried 2m4f in the Gold Cup at Ascot next time and 2m in the Goodwood Cup on latest; good form chance.

3/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.60
Straight Forecast £4.40
Trifecta £9.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hamish

TOPSPEED:

Al Qareem

POSTDATA:

King Of Conquest

The Times:

Max Vega

D Express:

Al Qareem

The Star:

Al Qareem

Daily Record:

King Of Conquest

RP RATINGS:

Hamish

Telegraph:

Hamish

The Guardian:

Hamish

Daily Mail:

Hamish

Daily Mirror:

Hamish

The Sun:

Hamish