NICKY Henderson has revealed he has a secret plan for Might Bite in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup a week tomorrow.

While he would not disclose any details, the handler of the early favourite to take the Cup admitted his team had come up with a course of action to aid the King George VI Chase winner in his attempt to lift jump racing’s most coveted prize.

“We’ve devised a battle plan for Might Bite, but we’re not telling anyone,” said Henderson.

“Good to soft (ground) come Friday would be ideal for everybody. I do think he likes good ground. The better the ground, the better (his chances).

“He’s as good as gold. His schooling the other morning was scarily good.

“Nico (de Boinville) has ridden him at home and he was great. He doesn’t do anything wrong at home - he’s just had those couple of blips.

“Things can upset him – but it doesn’t in a race – but you just have to be very careful with him.”

Jessica Harrington is thinking of putting last year’s hero Sizing John through his paces at Leopardstown ahead of his bid to become the first horse to defend their Gold Cup crown since Best Mate in 2003.

“We may go to Leopardstown on Friday evening to give him a jump and a gallop. I’m not certain, it will just depend on what the weather does,” said the Moone handler.

“We seem to be on course with him. I’m happy with him.”

Harrington has a good second string to her bow in last year’s Irish Grand National victor Our Duke, who was due to be acquainted with his big-race pilot Noel Fehily in a workout.

“He’s in great order. He’s going to go to the Gold Cup so we’ve got two chances,” she said.

“Trainers never know who is going to beat who. They’ve never worked against each other. If everything went well, there wouldn’t be much between them.”

Meanwhile, Edwulf will be looking to upstage Might Bite and add a bonus chapter to his remarkable story.

A year ago, racing in the Gold Cup was unthinkable.

Edwulf’s life hung in the balance after he collapsed after the final fence in the JT McNamara National Hunt Chase and there were fears he might die.

He defied those odds thanks to the help of the veterinary and support staff at Cheltenham and got back into training.

And he landed a most unlikely victory in the Irish Gold Cup last month.