Betfair Chase 2018

Yeah, not my favourite races either – never really understood the value of it as a trial.

One thing is for sure is that todays result has thrown the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons for the KG now.

There were some odd things said about Might Bite’s performance ranging from he started jumping bigger and thus taking more out of himself because the Haydock fences are bigger (there were several comments about the portable fences being much stiffer than in previous years) and that they haven’t been able to go on the grass to train that much because of the weather also because he was working so well at home they think they were not actually giving him enough work!

His record right handed suggests he’ll struggle in the KG, much as I’d love to see him win it.

As to Might Bite, he travelled through much of the race like a machine, so might have blown up although I think there are stamina questions for him to answer anyway. Some of the fences he jumped well, others he didn’t. The main problem that causes is the difficulty of getting into a rhythm, which is crucial in these stying chases imo. At the end of the day, he wasn’t up to it and began folding in much the way other horses have done behind Bristol De Mai at Haydock.

Well done everybody, and Joe!

BDM seems to be in love with Haydock regardless of the ground then, i will admit i am still very surprised at that!

Might Bite as you say Joe, i am not sure he stays quite as well as necessary. I also think there are a few holes still in him even if they’ve ironed out the quirky hanging tendency.

50/1 to win the Triple Crown is definitely worth a fiver of my winnings.

Who knows what he can achieve now his wind operation has proved successful Jack, he ended last season well and he comes back with a win on ground he shouldn’t have liked, really looking forward to following his progress this season.
Jac

MB cut out a bit too quick for me to think that it was his stamina giving out (more likely a lack of fitness) especially if you compare it to his Gold Cup run where he didn’t hit the wall until after the last.

However, I do think that the Gold Cup trip at Cheltenham is just slightly beyond his stamina limitations and it is likely he will always find a stronger staying type like a Native River (who has won a Welsh National under top weight in soft ground) has his number on those stiffer tracks.

It does set up the rest of the season nicely though as there are still question marks that need to be answered with most (if not all) of the top contenders.

Just watched again concentrating on Might Bite. I think Henderson has nailed it in the horse’s jumping; he spends far too much time in the air at most fences. Having said that, he travelled like the best horse until coming under pressure, which he responded to until jumping 3 out where he went to nothing.

He has an awful lot of speed for a stayer, closing biggish gaps during that race in two or three strides. That, for me, puts even more questions against his stamina. Out of curiosity, I’d love to see him over 2 miles.

Hold my hands up.
I didn’t believe Bristol De Mai would act on Good ground, I was wrong. In hindsight, the times he’s previously run on the surface it’s always been on unsuitable tracks and/or after a long hard season. As Twister himself said afterwards, the time to catch BDM is first of second time out. Not only did Bristol De Mai run to what I thought he was capable on the ground, it was better than I thought him capable of on any sort of ground. It’s now easier to rate last year’s race; value for more than I gave him credit for. In raw ability Bristol De Mai can now be rated up with the best of his generation; especially as both Thistlecrack and Clan Des Obeaux appeared to show their form today. However – like a lot of horses – although we now know he’s just as effective on good as heavy ground – still believe Bristol De Mai beholden to particular conditions. imo Best on left-handed flat tracks when able to lead.

Disappointed in how Richard Johnson rode Native River. Each time getting alongside BDM would make a mistake… and yet let Darryl go on again. Native River also best up with the pace. Would’ve thought Richard would’ve pushed Native River to either go on or at least make sure BDM didn’t have things so easy. BDM often made serious errors when taken on in the past. Johnson saying afterwards he never had the pace is nonsense, could’ve done more had he pushed the horse along – witness after the only error NR made, pushed up quite easily (also at times needed to be pushed along in the Gold Cup). Only excuse not to do so would be if knowing Native River not fully fit. ie If not fit then making more severe test would’ve been counterproductive despite in theory stamina being more to NR’s asset than BDM or MB. Native River below form today, but not as far below form as Might Bite.

Might Bite was the one proven on Good ground, so what went wrong? Moved well enough in the race to be odds-on at some stages. Maybe he wasn’t as fit as connections believed? But looking back he looked temperamental in the RSA when almost giving the race away… And although 3m on good ground was thought to help him turn the tables from Cheltenham – moving like a winner two out at the Festival before seemingly not getting home… Remember the King George? At Kempton Might Bite went to the front looking like he’d win with many lengths to spare – only to idle/fold on the short run-in and didn’t have much (1 length) in hand from Double Shuffle. Is Might Bite a top class racehorse that finds very little when coming under presure?

Shame both Native River and Might Bite didn’t show their form, would’ve been very close between the three – but still a great race.

Well done Jac and all those BDM backers.

Well done Jac, Joe and the others that kept the faith with BDM, who says loyalty doesn’t pay.
I think it’s a little early to be writing Might Bite off as a non stayer. He was beaten by too far today for it to be his true running. The Gold Cup was on unsuitable going and he have Native River a decent run until very late on. Still having said that I think Presenting Percy will sleep well tonight

Well done to everyone who backed BDM!

Certainly is a ‘Horses for Courses’ case with him for me. Despite potentially improving for this wind op I think he will yet again disappoint away from his beloved Haydock.

Crowd went wild when he went on and despite the price appeared to be well backed judging by the noise. Great race and great day at haydock!