Nicky hungry for a Bite at the big one

TRAINER Nicky Henderson left Sandown yesterday satisfied he has given Might Bite the perfect platform to justify favouritism in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The eight-year-old remains 7-2 for the Boxing Day race after dismissing three lesser-rated rivals in the 188Bet Future Stars Intermediate Chase over three miles.

Henderson (below) could have aimed Might Bite at the Betfair Chase at Haydock a week on Saturday when his rivals would have included Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Sizing John, Cue Card and Charlie Hall Chase winner Bristol De Mai.

But after watching jockey Nico de Boinville return on the 4-9 favourite after an eight-length win, Henderson said: ‘I stayed out of the Betfair Chase because I would have had to wind him right up for it and he needed confidence. It’s a much nicer way to go into the King George with this under his belt. The big test will be at Kempton on Boxing Day and the others can go and knock merry hell out of each other at Haydock.’

Frodon was runner-up and could make a quick reappearance in Saturday’s BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham with 22-year-old jockey Bryony Frost, according to trainer Paul Nicholls. WILLIE TWISTON-DAVIES has received medical clearance to return to race riding. Twiston-Davies, who assists his trainer father Nigel, broke two vertebrae and five ribs in a fall on Foxtail Hill at the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in March.