'Swanky' Might Bite set for King George after facile win at Sandown

Watch a full replay of Might Bite's victory at Sandown on Sunday, Lydia Hislop's interviews with Nicky Henderson and Nico De Boinville and read Geoffrey Riddle's report from Esher.

“We’ve got a live one here!”

So shouted the parade ring steward as he pulled up the rope to prevent Nico De Boinville and Might Bite getting out of hand ahead of their comfortable success in the 188Bet Future Stars Chase at Sandown on Sunday.

Might Bite’s eight-length win from Frodon was achieved with little effort and an athletic round of jumping, but it was clear to all that although the eight-year-old has plenty of potential he remains a horse that will never fully shake off his quirks.

Aside from the fact that on his first start since he beat stable companion Whisper in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase in April he ballooned the first obstacle of 22, the 4-9 favourite showed that his fencing is first-rate.

He saw the correct stride when he needed to, and although he went left on occasion, that propensity will hardly prevent him justifying quotes of 8-1 for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

In the winners’ enclosure afterwards De Boinville struggled to keep Might Bite still in order that the fiery bay gelding could have his picture taken with the Knot Again Partnership, his adoring owners. Time and again he head-butted his rider in the ribs before finally relenting.

This is a mercurial talent, and one that trainer Nicky Henderson may well give a racecourse gallop to before he lines up for the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day for which he is the 3-1 favourite.

“A racecourse gallop would not go amiss,” a delighted Henderson said. “He is crackers, he is so fresh today.

Might Bite finally relented to having his photograph taken at Sandown on Sunday. (Racingfotos)

“He was a bit too exuberant. That downhill fence at the start, as Nico said, I thought he was going land at Heathrow!”

He added: “It’s job done. He’s as fresh as a bull. He hasn’t done a lot of work – maybe three bits?

“He has been working well, and that worried me a little bit. He’s had a right good blow, but that is what it is all about.

“He is an entertaining horse. The advantage here is that the entrance [to the course] is at the top of the hill, which is way out in front of him, and it is at Kempton, too.

“His jumping was extraordinarily good. You can see how big he is – he is bigger in all departments. If he gets close to a fence he is very clever for a big horse. Of course he has to fiddle the odd one but the big yahoos are for another day.”

Might Bite was having his first start for 219 days (PA)

Might Bite was afforded the luxury of a lead during the early stages, which aided De Boinville considerably in settling this outrageous but temperamental talent.

Sam Twiston-Davies could well have decided to sit back and watch Might Bite storm to the front, as was often the case last season, but on Frodon he set a steady pace until the 13th fence.

From there Might Bite’s natural ability at his fences to take lengths out of his three opponents, all of whom were enjoying the benefit of race fitness, resulted in him cruising to the front.

After a sumptuous leap at the second last that extended his lead from three lengths to five, all that remained was for De Boinville to look back to see where his rivals were after the last and check again on the big screen on the run-in. You know, just in case.

“I’m happy with that,” the jockey said.

“He was very fresh and well at the first and he got in tight and ballooned it a bit. It was very handy having a lead, I felt I had to take it up when I did because he was enjoying himself and jumping so well.

“We’ve done plenty there and he’ll come on a load for that.

“I really like him and he has so much potential. I think he will be even better than last year.”

Might Bite could well have run at Haydock in a fortnight, when he would have had to clash with Gold Cup winner Sizing John, Charlie Hall Chase winner Bristol De Mai and three-time victor Cue Card. The race is the first in the Jockey Club £1million bonus series, but on this evidence Henderson was correct to forego the chance to land the beguiling windfall.

It was good for the racecourse, too, as 5,500 clicked through the turnstiles which was a 20% improvement on 12 months ago when Amore Alto also beat three others.

“He could be very, very good, and every time you go out there you have to be prepared to take the knock somewhere,” Henderson said.

“The big test will be at Boxing Day and they can all go and knock merry hell out of each other at Haydock.

"I know there is a million pound bonus out there but we would have had to train him properly for the Betfair. Our objective is the King George, luckily all of our guys agreed, well, one or two liked the idea of a million, as did I, but the horse comes first.

“He is heading the right way – he has so much presence and scope about him. He is quite a swanky horse, isn’t he? He shows off a fair bit – I’ve had one of those before.

“He has character to go with it and he is always worth watching because you never know what might happen next.

“Let’s hope he is real box office for the right reasons and not the wrong reasons.”