Gold Cup second can Bite back

THE Grade 1 Betfair Chase is today’s feature event at Haydock Park and I would be disappointed if Might Bite (3.00) did not reverse Cheltenham Gold Cup form with Native River over this flat three miles on good ground,

Native River won an epic duel up the Cheltenham hill back in March, but that success was gained on soft ground over an additional quarter of a mile and King George winner Might Bite (Evens with BetVictor) is a confident selection. Might Bite is 14/1 with BetVictor for the Jumps season Triple Crown (Betfair Chase, King George and Gold Cup) and I feel the first couple are his to lose.

Kalondra was my selection in the BetVictor Gold Cup last weekend and hadn’t been asked a question when unseating Noel Fehily five out, but he has now failed to complete in his last couple of starts and marginal preference is for Activial (1.15) who receives 7lbs from Kalondra.

Activial looked to find 2m 4f too sharp at Stratford at the beginning of the month on his first start for Tom George but he was very well backed on that occasion and he gets the narrow vote.

I think Admiral Barratry (1.50) will appreciate returning to a left-handed track having failed to cope with the final bend at Kempton last time – although he was only beaten a neck. He has bits of form that suggest he is fairly treated off his current mark.