BITE SO BRIGHT
PAGES OF FANTASTIC GREYHOUNDS START WITH HORSE RACING
MIGHT BITE showed that he is now a serious player for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after putting in a flawless round of jumping on his return to action at Sandown yesterday
As expected, Might Bite, a winner at Cheltenham and Aintree last season, came home with plenty in the tank, but what impressed was the way the eightyear-old jumped for Nico de Boinville.
“He settled well and he jumped beautifully,” said trainer Nicky Henderson, after the gelding finished eight lengths clear of Frodon in the 188Bet Chase.
“He just needed a run and I think he ® CHRIS GOULDING was running a bit fresh. Our objective is the King George (at Kempton on Boxing Day) and most agreed the sensible thing was to come here (rather than the Betfair Chase at Haydock).
“He won’t run again until then and he’ll be miles straighter than he was today. That’s part one done.
“We’ll try to win the King George and then make a second-half-of-theseason plan.”
The cleverly-named Might Bite, whose sire is Scorpion, is now the 5-2 favourite, (from 7-2) with Hills, for the King George and 5-1 (from 10s) for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
De Boinville, not surprisingly, was also impressed, saying: “Job done. I’m happy BUDS LANA DATA STORM BALLYMAC MARTY DROOPYS KNACK POOKEY BLUE BAYOU CROSSFIELD SARA DOONANES NIBBLE SHES THE ONE ATHBOY RUMBLE DUCHESS TREND MISS ZIPPY with that. He was very fresh and well going down to the first fence. I felt I had to take up the running (seven fences from home) when I did just because he was enjoying himself so much.
“He’ll come on bundles for that. The big fences played to his strengths.
“He was pretty straightforward and he’ll come on loads for that.
“I really like him. He’s got so much scope for improvement that I think he’ll be even better than he was last year.”
Connections of Coneygree, the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero, will now have to find a new jockey for their star as there is no way De Boinville, his regular rider, will be getting off Might Bite.
Two Irish-trained stars – Footpad and Apple’s Jade also made winning returns at Navan. Apple’s Jade showed her class when beating Jer’s Girl in the Lismullen Hurdle. “That’s grand as she normally gets beat the first day back” said winning trainer Gordon Elliott.
“I’d imagine she’ll go for the Hatton’s Grace, obviously I’ll speak to owners Michael and Eddie O’Leary.”
Elliott was also on the mark with Clarcam in the Fortria Chase. And with Mengli Khan who looked a bright prospect when taking the Grade Three For Auction Novice Hurdle.
Footpad, runner-up in last season’s Irish Champion Hurdle, made an impressive chasing debut.
“I thought it was a good performance for a first-time-out novice,” said winning trainer Willie Mullins. “He’s as good a novice as I’ve seen schooling at home.”