BITE THE BULLET
Back MIGHT BITE (kempton, 3.05) to bare his teeth and devour his rivals in today’s 32Red king George IV chase.
Life is rarely dull with Nicky Henderson’s enigmatic chaser (above), who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with a lastfence fall on this card 12 months ago.
His erroneous ways were again showcased at the cheltenham Festival in March when a last-gasp wobble on the run-in nearly gifted victory to stablemate Whisper.
Thankfully, signs of normality have characterised recent winning displays and an authoritative return at Sandown suggested the son of Scorpion is ready to hand his trainer a third win in the Boxing Day feature.
MIGHT BITE (Kempton, 3.05) has the perfect opportunity to exorcise the ghost of Christmas past with victory in this afternoon’s 32Red King George IV Chase.
The mercurial son of Scorpion ensured there was a sting in the tail for his supporters at this meeting 12 months ago when crashing out at the final fence of the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase with the race all but won.
There were further signs of delinquency at the Cheltenham Festival weeks later when a power- packed performance looked to have sewn up the RSA Chase until the selection hung violently towards the opening back to the paddock on the run in, allowing stablemate Whisper a glimpse of victory.
Thankfully for his backers, Might Bite possessed the inherent natural talent to rally when he was joined and another dramatic defeat was averted.
Those performances earned Nicky Henderson’s star chaser a cult following, even though his temperament threatened to derail his rapid ascension towards the top of National Hunt racing’s pecking order.
Thankfully, two subsequent outings at Aintree, in Grade One company, and on his authoritative Sandown comeback have served evidence Might Bite is maturing into the complete package.
The eight- year- old has the opportunity, with conditions to his liking, to showcase the Dr Jekyll side of his personality rather than that of Mr Hyde and it is salient to recall he was in the process of recording a faster time than it took Thistlecrack to win last year’s King George over the same trip until he met his untimely end.
It is difficult to quantify what level last year’s winner might be capable of reaching as last month’s hurdling return from injury at Newbury left more questions than answers.
There are those that feel last year’s renewal was a substandard affair and, with chief rival Cue Card running below par, Thistlecrack was left with a relatively simple task to dismiss his four rivals.
That may seem harsh, but this year’s running looks a strong affair, especially if the rain arrives to assist the chances of Bristol De Mai and it will be one of the great comebacks in recent times if Thistlecrack can regain top form and beat a strong field.
The case for Bristol De Mai is more compelling even if he is yet to reach the same levels away from his beloved Haydock. Deep ground is a necessity for the likeable grey as he operates with ruthless efficiency when conditions become brutal.
However, his chance is dependent on the ground and if Kempton does not become a war of attrition he may lose out.
Today’s test will demand plenty of Fox Norton, too, as he steps up to three miles for the first time and, contrary to some opinion, Kempton is not a place for non-stayers, with this race sure to be run at a strong gallop.
Maybe the biggest threat to Might Bite will emerge from his old adversary and stablemate Whisper, who has twice finished behind the selection over fences, but on both occasions has looked a major danger to his compatriot.
Whisper appears to have taken another step forward this season with an impressive defeat of Clan Des Obeaux at today’s venue on his comeback before he was agonisingly denied by Total Recall in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury.
He is likely to be ridden patiently and enjoy a nice tow into the race and I can see him looking a threat to all turning for home.