Bite and easy does it
MIGHT BITE laid to rest his horrific fall at Kempton a year ago in yesterday’s King George VI Chase.
He sailed over his fences, unlike his main market rival Bristol De Mai who bulldozed his way round the course.
Approaching the four-last, Might Bite jumped to the front, and unlike last year – when he somersaulted at the last fence – he was just kept up to his work to hold off 50-1 shot Double Shuffle. Tea For Two was third.
It was a third victory in the race for Nicky Henderson, twice successful with Long Run, and he was drawing comparisons with his mighty two-mile champion Sprinter Sacre.
“After the era of Sprinter, this horse has similar sex appeal,” said Henderson. “He loves all the showmanship that goes with it and loves to jump like that. Boss it and say, look at me, just like Sprinter.
“I said to Nico ‘try not to press him coming to the last fence, and don’t let him know it’s the last. And then go for your life’. I did hold my breath but I could see Nico had him on a good stride.”
Might Bite remains a 6-1 chance with Unibet for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
“I’m aware Cheltenham is a different ball game,” said Henderson. “But we will have to work something out – we have but I’m not telling you!”
Henderson earlier won the Champion Hurdle trial with Buveur D’Air. The gelding will have one more run before the big one in March.