Might Bite ‘jumping clean’ ahead of King George bid

● Henderson doesn’t fear repeat of last year’s fall ● Tizzard high on defending champ Thistlecrack

Nicky Henderson does not expect a repeat of last year’s drama at Kempton this afternoon when hot favourite Might Bite runs in the 32Red King George VI Chase.

Having burst on the scene this time 12 months ago, he seemingly had the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at his mercy, only to fall at the last, and it has taken all of Henderson’s patience and skill to get him back up to the same level.

His victory in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March was one of the most remarkable of the season and he followed up at Aintree, by which time Henderson was already thinking of the Christmas showpiece.

Briefly the idea of winning the £1million Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown was flirted with, but heavy ground in the Betfair Chase at Haydock was never going to be his thing.

“He is not a horse that needs a huge amount of work and you can see why I am pleased we didn’t go to Haydock, on the ground that cropped up that day,” said the champion trainer.

“I don’t regret doing what we did in going to Sandown instead. At least we are safe and sound and have a happy horse, which is what we want.

“To go back to Kempton last year, there were no quirks that day. It was a one, two, three and miss and he had never looked like doing anything like that up until then. Since then his jumping has been clean and accurate.

“Wherever he went last year, his jumping was good. Sometimes you are having to curtail it. You can’t let him have his yahoos all the way round, as he would be doing too much.

“He is a much sharper horse this year. I don’t know why. He looks feisty and well. He’s working much better than he did last year.”

Henderson also runs Whisper, second to his stablemate at Cheltenham and Aintree and also second in the Ladbrokes Trophy last time out.

“It was Dai [Walters, owners] who wanted to go for the King George and I don’t disagree with him,” said Henderson. “At his age, Dai rather feels that the race is there and the prize money is there.

“He feels inclined to take on Might Bite and everyone else.”

Might Bite’s main market rival is Bristol De Mai following his effortless win in the Betfair Chase, and his connections are hoping to see him