Might Bite, The New One and Harry all lined up for weekend outing

A weekend after Cue Card, Coneygree and Our Duke ratcheted up the excitement of jumps fans, only to disappoint, along comes another top trio in Unowhatimeanharry, The New One and Might Bite – arguably the most intriguing horse in training – to get the juices flowing.

The flops of Cue Card, Coneygree and Our Duke, coupled with the workmanlike win of Bristol De Mai in the Charlie Hall, left the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup market looking more confused.

However, with Thistlecrack, Sizing John and Yorkhill – the only horses shorter in the Gold Cup betting than Might Bite – yet to be seen this season, the RSA Chase-winning eight-year-old could be the first to lay down his claims.

And bloodstock agent and part-owner David Minton is so excited by his return that he is skipping the Fairyhouse Sales to be at Sandown to see him run in the Listed 188Bet Future Stars Intermediate Chase on Sunday.

Minton said: "He worked very well on Saturday, he looks fantastic and he schooled quite quickly – which is interesting. He's on schedule and this was always the plan this season as his first major target is the King George; we'll play it by ear from there."

Might Bite is unquestionably a wondrously talented horse, but he fell at the last in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase when 18 lengths clear, and almost threw away a similar lead in the RSA when veering right after the last.

Worryingly for everyone else, Minton reported Might Bite appears to have become more straightforward.

"I think Scorpions [horses by Might Bite's sire] have a bit of a quirk but they improve mentally with age and with time he's improving," he said.

"It'll be very exciting. I'm not very popular right now because I'm skipping Fairyhouse, but I was determined to see him run."

The New One, meanwhile, could potentially clash with the likes of Top Notch and last season's dominant force in the long-distance division Unowhatimeanharry in a 2m4f hurdle at Aintree on Saturday.

Unowhatimeanharry (left) battled well to fend off Nichols Canyon at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann

Trainer Harry Fry had initially intended to give nine-year-old Unowhatimeanharry his return to action in the same race as last season, Newbury's Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle, but the Punchestown festival winner is so well he has been forced to reconsider.

Fry said: "Aintree wasn't really the plan but he's bouncing at home so we had to have a look because I was beginning to wonder if we could contain him for another three weeks. We'll decide later in the week.

"Newbury's plan A and then the races pick themselves. The Long Walk, the Cleeve, and then a return to Cheltenham in March for another go at the Stayers' Hurdle."

And Fry is looking to right the wrong of last season's championship race, for which Unowhatimeanharry was sent off odds-on favourite but could finish only third.

He said: "It was the only 48 hours of the year he wasn't quite 100 per cent, but they only have to be off slightly for it to make the difference at that level.

"It was sod's law it was the most important 48 hours of the season. It was hugely disappointing – it made Punchestown extra special – but there's unfinished business to attend to this season."

Saturday cards

Sunday cards

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