IN time terms, the Queen Mother Champion Chase was not quite the highlight of Wednesday at Cheltenham. That honour went to the RSA Chase and the Nicky Henderson-trained pair of Might Bite and Whisper, who fought out an unforgettable finish, well clear of their rivals.

“Well clear” is what Might Bite himself was of everything, including Whisper, coming into the closing stages, but he lost momentum at the last, then hung right and tried to pull himself up, before rallying after Whisper (and, perhaps more helpfully, the loose Marinero) edged past.

After what seemed like a lifetime (to this observer, at least), Might Bite was announced the winner by a nose.

The time was very good under the conditions, equivalent to a 161 timefigure, though Might Bite had already been credited with a 162 when falling at the last in a clear lead at Kempton on Boxing Day.

TOP CHASER

In a normal season, a 161 timefigure might be the best by a novice chaser at any distance, but this is no normal season and Might Bite remains behind Altior (170) and Thistlecrack (165) in that division.

Whisper’s 161 suggests he could have won every recent running of the RSA Chase bar this one: remember it is less than two years since he was beating Cole Harden and Un Temps Pour Tout in the Liverpool Stayers’ Hurdle. Bellshill back in third with a 152 timefigure would probably have gone close in an average running.

It is interesting to gauge how fast Might Bite was going before his waywardness kicked in.

Overall, his time was 2.8s slower than recorded by Blaklion achieved when winning in a respectable time on a quicker surface 12 months before, but Might Bite was as much as 15 lengths ahead of that horse mid-race.

Wherever Might Bite turns up next, it should make for compelling viewing. Which version will show? Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde, or a bit of both, as here?!