Simcock expects to see Durston progress

David Simcock is expecting Durston to produce the goods this year to make up for his disappointing end to last season.

After victories at Chester and Doncaster last June, the three-year-old was second at Goodwood in the Unibet Handicap at the end of July behind Sir Ron Priestley, who later impressed in the St Leger.

Simcock’s charge was then fancied to prevail in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury but came in third and the trainer admits he was frustrated by that contest, although he’s looking forward to this summer, when racing resumes, to see what Durston can do.

Simcock told Sporting Life: “We thought he’d win at Goodwood and just got touched off by a horse who went on to finish second in the St Leger in Sir Ron Priestley.

“We were really disappointed with him at Newbury on his final start but he finished second to two horses in Technician and Morando who are mud lovers and slogged it out better than him. He was travelling better than anything two out and we think the conditions were just too testing for him and he didn’t quite see out the one mile five furlongs that day.

“We’ll push him back to a mile-and-a-half and he looks to have got a bit quicker. Hopefully he’ll progress again.”

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