32RED KING GEORGE VI

STAKES (GRADE 1)

NICKY Henderson’s Might Bite, not always the most predictable, was on his best behaviour and ran out a convincing winner of the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

Firmly driven out by Nico de Boinville, he had a length to spare over 50/1 outsider Double Shuffle, with Tea For Two again running well in third.

On the balance of form, Might Bite was certain to start a short-priced favourite, though at 6/4 the bookmakers were giving as little away as possible.

Always close up and sometimes matching strides with market rival Bristol De Mai, he led for the second time at the 14th and opened up a gap running to three out.

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From then on he was always going to win, though Double Shuffle made him work after the last and Tea For Two was only a couple of lengths away.

Connections took heart from Thistlecrack’s fourth, last year’s impressive winner having a chance as they turned for home, though he still has something to prove.

Bristol De Mai faded into sixth, finding this a very different task from his slog in the Haydock mud last time.

Might Bite is rising eight and the biggest prize of all will surely be firmly in his sights in three months’ time. Whether the extra distance will help is questionable, and the bare form – a length to spare over a horse officially rated 14lb inferior – is unexceptional.

The admirable if fully exposed Tea For Two lends further weight to the argument.

None of this is likely to trouble Henderson, who was completing a double following Buveur D’Air’s win.

“He was great, wasn’t he?” Henderson said of Might Bite. “He’s jumped beautifully the whole way. He’s so exuberant. He’s nearly in Sprinter Sacre’s league in the good-looking stakes. He’s got presence and charisma and you can’t help but love him.

“Cheltenham is a different ball game, of course, and he’s got to behave there. But there’s no reason why he shouldn’t and there was no repetition today of the waywardness that cost him the Kauto Star here last year.

“I wonder if he even needs another race before the Gold Cup? If he does, it certainly won’t be in a bog.”