Henderson Still Looking For Answers On Might Bite's Poor Form

Leading British trainer Nicky Henderson is still on the search for answers as to why his 2017 King George winner was so disappointing in his title defence at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The 3/1 favourite on the day travelled strongly at the start of the race with plenty of horses all looking to be the one to set the pace but when it came down to the key areas near the back end of the race the four time Grade 1 winner couldn't go with the pack and finished a subsequent seventh, 37 lengths behind 12/1 winner Clan Des Obeaux.

This came after another below par performance on his seasonal reappearance at Haydock in the Betfair Chase where he came last of the field of five and now truly has to perform to his best if he is going to take a Grade 1 race this season.

Henderson still has no answers as to why his nine year old gelding, owned by the Knot Again Partnership, has been so poor this season with everything he is doing at home going to plan for the trainer.

(Credit Racing Post) Henderson said on Tuesday: "He's fine and I can't tell you any more because I don't know any more. He exercised yesterday and Toby [Lawes] rode him out for an hour. We can't find anything wrong and the results of the tests came back fine.

"I'm thinking of what to do next and I really don't know. We're considering dozens of things. There is something not right – I think that's fair to say, but where to find it we don't know. We're talking with loads of experts on different subjects."

Might Bite's target could still be the Cheltenham Gold Cup in which he just fell short last year when coming a fair runner up to eventual winner Native River, but he will have to better then ever to compete this year.