MIGHT BITES ON RETURN
BITE (4-9 Fav) made no mistake on his seasonal return in the Rising Stars’ Chase at Sandown.
Nicky Henderson’s gelding can be quirky but he produced a highly professional display of jumping and galloping for Nico De Boinville to beat Frodon (16-1) by eight lengths.
The bookies were impressed with last season’s top novice who is now as short as 11-4 favourite in places for the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. Apple’s Jade (8-15 Fav) made an impressive return in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan.
Gordon Elliott’s star made all under Jack Kennedy and strolled clear in the final furlong to beat market rival Jer’s Girl by four lengths.
Paddy Power quickly cut Apple’s Jade to 5-2 from 3-1 for the OLGB Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
Kick-off the week in style with NEWSTART (2.05) at Carlisle. Brian Ellison’s six-year-old built on some cracking summer efforts when scoring cosily at Kelso last month and can follow up under useful 5lb claimer Kaine Wood.
CALIVIGNY (3.10) can bag the handicap chase for Perth handler Neil Alexander.
The eight-year-old was a good second to the progressive Never Up on his comeback here last time and can go one better off a workable mark.
FULL (1.20) can gain his maiden win over fences at Kempton. Neil Mullholland’s gelding has been unlucky to run into some useful types in his short chasing career and can finally get his head in front upped to 2m 2f.
In-form Harry Whittington can take the lucky last with SALTO CHISCO (4.0).
The nine-year-old cruised to victory at Huntingdon last time and will take all the beating again off an unchanged mark.
Faugheen will make his longawaited comeback in Sunday’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.
Owner Rich Ricci said the Willie Mullins-trained superstar was fighting fit and would begin his bid to regain his Champion Hurdle crown in the Grade 1 showpiece.
Ricci also revealed that Douvan had recovered well from the hip problem that saw him pulled up in last season’s Champion Chase but will swerve next month’s Tingle Creek at Sandown.
Looking ahead, the sevenyear-old could race beyond two miles for the first time this season and is entered for next month’s King George at Kempton.