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Agree Gladiateur. I also believe the better company in the Gold Cup would have focussed his mind and he would not have messed about on the run in like he did in the RSA. It was, of course, incredible that he actually still managed to win that race!
It is obviously easy to be wise after the event but I wonder if his connections do wish they had gone for the Open races. Thistlecrack and Coneygree have shown what novices can do if they are good enough and I believe Might Bite was better.
Injury is only just around the corner in National Hunt racing, as Thistlecrack and Coneygree have both demonstrated all too well. There is a strong case for saying you should strike while the iron is hot.
I read Kevin Blake’s blog on the ATR site just before Christmas in which he suggested any novices rated 150 or above should be barred from novice chases after January, thus forcing the better novices to run in the Championship races. Not a bad idea.
Don’t agree with Kevin Blake on that one, Cork, but it’s an interesting idea nonetheless.
On the subject of striking while the iron’s hot, the essay on Carvill’s Hill in Timeform’s Chasers & Hurdlers 1987-88 addresses that very subject; worth reading if you have that particular annual at home.
Getting back to Might Bite, he reminded me a lot of one of my all-time favourites, Barton Bank. Handsome dark bay; front runner; fantastic quick, low jumper; pretty much unbeatable for a while. The difference is that physical injury derailed Barton’s career, whereas with Nicky Henderson’s charge it appears to have been mental.
It is curious what happened to Might Bite. It is often said the race against Native River in the Gold Cup bottomed him. However, he came out a few weeks later and won at Aintree, beating Clan Des Obeaux and Bristol De Mai.
I was there that day and he was magnificent. And the two beaten horses have hardly let the form down since.
He then had that dismal run at Haydock in the Betfair and it was all downhill afterwards. Towards the end he was a shell of the horse he was. It was very sad to see, especially the sight of him over the National fences which he clearly did not enjoy at all.
It is worth checking out Blake’s blog on novice chases. Maybe he is writing to provoke to an extent but he makes some interesting points, especially about Envoi Allen. We keep being told he is a world beater but he is now into his third season on the track and has never raced outside of novice company. Is this really defensible in the modern age when horses are not the immature, backward store horses of yesteryear who needed to be given time?
Watched Might Bite’s RSA yesterday. He was stunning throughout (till the end!). Such a shame they couldn’t get his mind right as I’m sure he would have been one of the greats. I understand why they stuck at it for longer than probably sensible with him but glad he’s finally retired sound.
Relieved to hear he has been retired, stunning looking horse with immense talent on his day, I hope he has a long and happy retirement.
Still no official NRA on the books for Might Bite. Still time for Sandy Thomson to put a put a sneaky call in to the owners…
Hhhmmm, Sandy Thomson did say he had a secret weapon for the Grand National, people assuming he means Belshill, but Might Bite is being retired to Charles Barnett ex Aintree ….
One of the reasons I love Native River is the fact he,s remained a top class horse , look at where most of the horses he’s ran against in prev GC are now , I believe the battle might bite had against him was the start of his decline , I don’t think even sandy could bring might bite back
Red River, Gray Day, La Bague Au Roi, Rollerball Rocco, Bonnet’s Vino and Je Suis Charlie among the familiar names on the NRA list in the last week.
Gino Trail also retired according to his owner on Twitter today.
Gino Trail is a grand old horse, really bold front runner and capable of very smart form on his day.
Happy retirement fella.
Lots of familiar names retired officially in the last week:
Might Bite, Forest Ranger, Barsanti, Ozzie The Oscar, Star Of Southwold, The Game Is A Foot, Ascot Week, Sunshineandbubbles, Chelsea Flyer and Zig Zag among them.
Cult hero sprinter Poyle Vinnie arguably the biggest name on the retirements list this week.
Trapper Peak, Agent Basterfield, Aniknam, Sakhee’s City, Isomer and Domtaline other familiar names.
Air Horse One retired yesterday. I was surprised that he’s only 10, he seems to have been around forever. Hopefully a long and happy retirement awaits.
From Harry Fry yesterday “Today we saw AIR HORSE ONE run his last race at Taunton before heading off into retirement.
He joined us in 2015 for The Dons. Finishing fourth in a County Hurdle in 2017, he has been a wonderful stalwart and will be much missed”.Walk in the Mill also retired.
There is a nice article on he RP site:
Happy and long retirement to him
Happy retirement..
Walk In The Mill
Poyle Vinnie
Air Force One
and most recently
Relegate
Who at just 8 years old has seemed out of love with the game after suffering a fractured pelvis at the Cheltenham meeting.
Hope she enjoys her time in the paddocks and look forward to seeing her progeny in the years to come.Wish them and all horses retired over the past weeks long and happy retirements.
Jac
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...
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