Blood-red when beheaded, like a snake (7)

I believe the answer is:

anguine

'like a snake' is the definition.
(I know this)

'blood-red when beheaded' is the wordplay.
'blood-red' becomes 'sanguine' (I've seen this in another clue).
'when beheaded' means to remove the first letter.
'sanguine' with its initial letter removed is 'ANGUINE'.

(Another definition for anguine that I've seen is " Snakelike".)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times and The Times.

Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app