‘ Amazing journey’ of Might Bite ends with retirement
NICKY HENDERSON has announced the retirement of 2017 King George VI Chase hero Might Bite.
While that performance at Kempton was no doubt his career highlight, the multiple Grade One winner will also be remembered for the dramatic way in which he won the RSA Chase a season earlier when holding off stablemate Whisper by a nose.
Over 10 lengths clear jumping the last, Might Bite veered badly to his right up the run- in, giving Whisper a chance, only to pick up again in the final strides to cling on for victory.
He went on to be second in the 2018 Gold Cup to Native River, but failed to reproduce that form in subsequent seasons.
“It was an amazing journey, but not one without a few hiccups and I suppose the most memorable would have been when he tried to visit the Guinness Village en route to winning the RSA,” said the champion trainer.
“That was a tremendous race, and a fine spectacle for everyone there that day, but what made it even more significant was that we had the second, Whisper, so I would have been happier if the judge had called a dead heat!”
Reflecting further, Henderson said: “He was one of the most amazing characters you’ll ever come across and was the most gorgeous looking horse you will ever see; he had so much presence about him and stood out more than anything else in the parade ring and was in the Sprinter Sacre sort of mould.
“The highlight would have to be the King George in 2017 when he was simply marvellous and was never really going to get beaten that day because his confidence was so high and he was very much at the top of his game.”
Meanwhile Aye Right is likely to have his next outing in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on January 30.
Harriet Graham’s stable star has put up three meritorious efforts this season, finishing second to subsequent Old Roan winner Nuts Well at Kelso, coming home third in the Charlie Hall Chase and most recently putting up a career- best effort to be second in the Ladbrokes Trophy under Callum Bewley.
“He’s entered in the Doncaster race at the end of the month and that would be the immediate plan,” said Graham.
“We’ve had a little bit of a stop because we’re frozen solid up here ( Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders) with two inches of snow, but he’s fit and he’ll be ready for that as it is supposed to warm up next week.”
Brian Ellison’s Definitly Red, Amy Murphy’s Kalashnikov and Sandy Thomson’s rejuvenated Yorkhill are among 52 entries.