October 28 / 13.30 Newbury

13.30

Heavy

BetVictor St Simon Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £39697
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV
View Course
BetVictor St Simon Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 5-0011 D

Last run: 21 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; today's opponents should be more demanding than those he faced last time.
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

Abandoned

Form: 12-111 D

Last run: 85 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Pipped by Max Vega at level weights in this race last year on heavy; has now won six Group 3s following 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

Abandoned

Form: -52993

Last run: 56 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 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

Abandoned

Form: 1-3639 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
The latest of his three Group 3 wins was this race 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 was 22-1) and he needs a second 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

Abandoned

Form: -33824 C

Last run: 44 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 Geoffrey Freer here (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

Form: -12384

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(5)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 2f 0y

17:30 Leopardstown

White Birch

9st 9lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: John Joseph Murphy

Third in 2023 Derby after Dante second; in rear in the Irish Derby and not at best here on final start at three; progressive in a hat-trick of Pattern wins at the Curragh early last season, culminating in an impressive Group 1 victory over Auguste Rodin; setbacks later, returned with a fine effort against Los Angeles; excuses behind the same horse in Tattersalls Gold Cup.

13/2

8

(4)

25th May 2025

Good

1m 2f 110y

15:05 Curragh

White Birch

9st 5lb

J: Colin Keane

T: John Joseph Murphy

Third behind Auguste Rodin in 2023 Derby after Dante second; in rear in the Irish Derby and not at best at Leopardstown on final start at three; progressive in a hat-trick of Pattern wins at this venue early last season, culminating in an impressive victory over August Rodin in this event; setbacks later, returned with a fine effort against Los Angeles; every chance he can reverse the form.

11/4

8

(4)

25th May 2025

Good

1m 2f 110y

15:05 Curragh

White Birch

9st 5lb

J: Colin Keane

T: John Joseph Murphy

Third behind Auguste Rodin in 2023 Derby after Dante second; in rear in the Irish Derby and not at best at Leopardstown on final start at three; progressive in a hat-trick of Pattern wins at this venue early last season, culminating in an impressive victory over August Rodin in this event; setbacks later, returned with a fine effort against Los Angeles; every chance he can reverse the form.

11/4

Abandoned

Form: 13-742

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
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

Verdict

Last year’s runner-up Hamish looks sure to go well and last year’s narrow winner, Max Vega, might just raise his game again. However, they are opposed by two appealing 3yos who can emerge on top. Irish challenger White Birch has the higher profile, having been third in the Derby, and he won a good race on heavy ground early this season. Slight preference, though, is for SALT BAY whose two best runs, by a long chalk, were delivered on heavy going. The latest was at this track five weeks ago, in a handicap but against a smart winner, and he can now go one better.[Richard Austen]