The Big Bite

The Big Bite looked good in winning the two-mile handicap chase. Prominent from early, Henry Oliver’s horse travelled well for Jonathan Burke, despite the fact that he made one or two jumping errors. He got in tight to the final fence on the back straight, but he was quickly back on and even keel, he jumped the cross fence well, and jumped to the front over the third last fence. He was challenged by Defi Sacre on the long run to the final fence, and he looked vulnerable, as first Defi Sacre and then Duke Of Navan challenged. But he found lots when Jonathan Burke asked him to pick up again. He cleared away on the run-in and he won well in a good time.

It was a hugely likeable performance by the son of Scorpion. He won well and he left the impression that he had more left to give. The handicapper raised him by 6lb to a mark of 145, but that still looks like a workable mark. This was his first run for Henry Oliver, it was his first run since last February, and it was just his fourth chase, so he has the scope to continue improving. He ran in the Champion Bumper in 2018, and he ran in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, so he has obviously always been well regarded. It may be that a fast-run two miles suits him best, but he has won over two and a half miles, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next.

Aintree, 7^th November 2020