Nicky Henderson is aiming for a historic treble this afternoon as he send out Might Bite in the Gold Cup.
After Buveur d’Air won the Champion Hurdle and Altior claimed the Champion Chase a win for the long-time favourite in the feature race of the day would see him complete the unprecedented feat. Will this speedy type see his stamina stretched on the soft ground?
He’ll have no shortage of opposition, with Jessica Harrington, who won the race last year with Sizing John, sending out the well-fancied Our Duke to head the Irish challenge. That one touched off Presenting Percy, who since went on to win the RSA at his leisure, while giving away 7lbs. That is solid and he’ll relish the test of stamina.
Native River, who was third in this race last year, goes for Colin Tizzard and will enjoy the ground. A reappearance win at Newbury will have put him right ahead of this.
A win for Joseph O’Brien’s Edwulf might be the story of the Festival, he was pulled up when suffering a problem having been going well at the course this time last year. His life was in severe danger in the aftermath of the race and the Cheltenham vets worked tirelessly with him. He’s been stoked back to form by Joseph O’Brien since and landed the Irish Gold Cup last time. Should he come back and land this, a year after his misfortune there won’t be a dry eye in the winner’s enclosure.
Definitely Red, winner of the Cotswold Chase at the course last time, is another who’ll love the ground and goes for Brian Ellison and the rest of Yorkshire.
Will one of these, or a less fancied type, write their name into the history books this afternoon? There’s not long left until we find out..
