[3] 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.

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.

[5] 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.

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.

Starting as the odds-on favourite, he was positioned near the rear of the field by Geraghty in the early stages, but when he was left in the lead by Colour Squadron falling at the third last hurdle, he pulled clear to win by fifteen lengths from Super Duty.

[11] A few days later, again in a five-runner field, he recorded another easy victory, winning the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton Park by 35 lengths from Hinterland.

He travelled well in the rear of the pack and was asked to put up a serious challenge in the home turn when he almost gained the lead between the final two fences, however, the lack of race fitness became apparent after the last obstacle when he lost the second spot finishing four lengths behind the winner.