Simonsig  Simonsig (2 May 2006 – 13 November 2016) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won eight of his 13 races and was best known for winning the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival and the Arkle Challenge Trophy at the 2013 Festival. He was owned by Ronnie Bartlett and trained by Nicky Henderson. Simonsig was a grey gelding bred by Simon Tindall and foaled on 2 May 2006. He was sired by Fair Mix, a horse who won eight races, including the Prix Ganay in 2003. Simonsig's dam is Dusty Too, who won two hurdle races, and is a daughter of Terimon, who was trained by noted American racehorse breeder Joshua Stewart. In early 2011 Simonsig ran in three point-to-point races, winning two and falling in the other. He was then purchased by Ronnie Bartlett and made his first start under National Hunt rules on 25 April 2011, when he won a bumper race at Fairyhouse, beating Kandinski by thirteen lengths. He made his first start over hurdles in November 2011, beating Brass Tax by eleven lengths to win the Ascot race. He then stepped up in class for the Grade 2 Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown Park. He finished second in the race, two and three-quarter lengths behind 4/5 favourite Fingal Bay, who went on to win the Challow Novices' Hurdle. As preparation for the Cheltenham Festival he ran in a Class 2 hurdle race at Kelso in February 2012, recording an easy victory over second placed Knockara Beau and four others. Simonsig contested the two-mile five-furlong Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, where he faced sixteen rivals. He started the race as the 2/1 favourite and ridden by regular jockey Barry Geraghty he made progress through the field to take third place with three obstacles left to jump. He was close behind leader Cotton Mill as they approached the second to last hurdle, but Cotton Mill suddenly veered and unseated his rider, leaving Simonsig in the lead. He stretched his lead and won by seven lengths from Felix Yonger, with Monksland a further eleven lengths back in third place. The victory was his trainer Nicky Henderson's 41st win at the Festival, eclipsing Fulke Walwyn's all-time record. Simonsig then went to Aintree for the Mersey Novices' Hurdle.