Nicky Henderson rules out Cheltenham audition for Might Bite

“You could enjoy watching horses like him all day and night” said Nicky Henderson after Might Bite had provided him with a third triumph in the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

For much of the way, the beautiful bay had indeed been a pleasure to watch with his bold jumping and attacking nature in the highlight of the Christmas programme.

Four out, when he swept past principal rival Bristol De Mai under Nico De Boinville, it looked like we might be in store for an exhibition of the Desert Orchid or Kauto Star variety and the 20,500 crowd roared their approval.

By the end, though, it was all getting a bit close for comfort with the 6-4 favourite prevailing by a dwindling length from the unconsidered 50-1 chance Double Shuffle.

Tea For Two, a legless third on his previous start in the Betfair Chase, was only another a couple of lengths behind them and Thistlecrack, still feeling his way back from injury, was also within hailing distance in fourth despite a costly error two out.

Bristol De Mai surrendered so tamely that something must have been amiss with the runaway Betfair Chase victor. Nigel Twiston-Davies was summoned by the stewards but was unable to offer any explanation and he will have left the track crushed that his dream of scooping the Jockey Club’s £1million Triple Crown bonus was over.

Nico De Boinville has no stamina concerns for Might Bite regarding the Gold Cup (Racingfotos)

Fox Norton hung left and never got involved, while Whisper, stablemate of the winner, ran as if not over his bruising battle in last month’s Ladbrokes Trophy.

The reaction of bookmakers usually gives a fair gauge to any performance and most trimmed Might Bite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup without taking drastically evasive action.

Betfair left him unchanged on 13-2 and their doors were not knocked down by punters, who will have returned to their mince pies and warmed up turkey with a satisfied glow but without thinking they had witnessed something out of the ordinary.

Within a couple of days Might Bite may even be a chunkier price for the biggest prize of them all because Sizing John, imperious on his return, will get a swift chance to reply in the Christmas Chase at Leopardstown on Thursday. Jessica Harrington’s star is a general 4-1 favourite to retain his Gold Cup crown.

The path that Henderson plots for Might Bite between now and the Festival will be fascinating but the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham at the end of next month is not on the agenda, even if it would answer a stamina question and potentially offer a clue as to whether the horse’s waywardness on the run-in of last season’s RSA Chase was a one-off.

“I don’t see the point of running him in that race,” the 67-year-old said. “What happens if he tells us he doesn’t stay - the (Gold Cup) dream would be dead.

"We will probably have another run but it won’t a be a slog in a bog.”

Admiring his horse in the winner’s enclosure, he added: “He has sex appeal, loves the showmanship that goes with it (racing). He likes to boss it and says ‘look at me’.”

Fast-forwarding to the Gold Cup itself, Henderson said: "We’ve got to behave ourselves at Cheltenham. I’m the first to admit is a different ball game and he will probably jump the last and want to go right.

“We will have to think of something.” Then, teasingly, he added: “I already have but I don’t want to give it away.”

For his part, De Boinville was looking forward to the Festival.

"I think he will absolutely fine on it (Cheltenham) and there will be better ground on that Friday as long as the rain holds off," he said. "If he is as straightforward as that he has to have a live chance. I have no stamina concerns."

Before Might Bite won at Aintree in April, Henderson had instructed De Boinville not to go for Might Bite until after the final fence if he could help it and that was also the plan for the King George - an instruction he had the luxury of being able to follow to the letter.

Twelve months earlier, of course, Might Bite had suffered a heavy fall at the final fence in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase with the race at his mercy.

“We have our little scheme - try not to press before the last,” Henderson said. “Don’t let him know it’s the last, then go for your life.

“I could see he was on good stride at the last today - it wasn’t a silly long one.”

De Boinville has enjoyed other giddy days aboard Coneygree and Sprinter Sacre, but was unwilling to draw comparisons.

“I don’t want to compare horses,” he said. “It’s unfair, he’s a star in his own right.

“He was taking me there the whole way today and doing it very easily. That makes it a lot easier as a jockey - I just had to hold on.”

Earlier on the card, Henderson had won the Christmas Hurdle with the slick Buveur D’Air, who played with The New One like a cat would with a mouse.

He also revealed top two-mile chaser Altior will resume cantering this week after a successful recuperation following his breathing operation.

The Christmas celebrations at Seven Barrows may go on for some while.