Wacky racer Might Bite to put his best foot forward
Nicky Henderson made a good start to the Grand National meeting when Buveur D’air led home a stable one-two in yesterday’s Betway Aintree Hurdle and he can continue it today with Might Bite, his highly talented but somewhat unpredictable RSA winner, in the Betway Mildmay Novice Chase.
Might Bite, whose antics at the Cheltenham Festival were worthy of one of the wackier Grand Nationals after he appeared to aim for the exit to the paddock before rallying to get back up on the line to beat Whisper, is today’s star attraction. But, if you back him, it would be unwise to count your winnings until he is past the line.
At least the exit at Aintree back to the paddock is past the winning post, but Henderson concedes that, apart from standing halfway up the run-in waving his arms, there is nothing he can do to correct any wayward notions the eight-year-old has towards the end of the race.
Henderson reflected yesterday that it was a “bit unfair” having to beat My Tent Or Yours, also trained by him, yet again with Buveur D’air. He may feel the same way if Might Bite beat Whisper again, but he is entitled to think his Champion Hurdle winner may be better than originally given credit for, after he extended his margin of victory to five lengths over yesterday’s 2½-mile trip.
Pointing out the difficulty of doubling up at both Festivals, which equally applies to Might Bite, Henderson said: “However easy you win at Cheltenham, you always have tough races and you have to come back and do it here. We gave them a quiet 10 days and Buveur D’air came here looking big. He’s doing everything right now.”
Later on the card, Tom George, who runs Double Shuffle and Saint Are in tomorrow’s Grand National, can cap what has already been a fine season for his yard by winning the JLT Melling Chase for the second season in succession with the tough, dependable and thoroughly admirable God’s Own. The nineyear-old was beaten 7½ lengths into fifth place in the Champion Chase by Special Tiara but was challenging for a major share of the spoils when he banked the second last. George also has a good chance in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle with The World’s End.
Professional jockeys will get their first sight of the National fences this week in today’s Randox Health Topham Chase.
The Paul Nicholls-trained As De Mee is not always the most predictable of horses, but he is a previous course-and-distance winner and can prove his liking for the place. He has the perfect partner in Sean Bowen, whose undoubted horsemanship can bring out the best in this character.