Aintree: Might Bite Heads Nicky Henderson Treble At Grand National Meeting
Venue: Aintree Meeting: 12-14 April Grand National: 17:15 BST Saturday
Coverage: BBC Radio 5 live, sports extra and the BBC Sport site More details
Might Bite leapt wonderfully to win the Betway Bowl as fitness instructor Nicky Henderson celebrated a treble on the opening day of Aintree's Grand National meeting.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up beat Bristol De Mai, while stablemates We Have A Dream and L'Ami Serge also won.
Former soldier Guy Disney made history by ending up being the first amputee jockey to ride over the National fences.
Disney was the last of 12 on Gallery Exhibition as Balnaslow won the Foxhunters' Chase.
Grand National: Runners and riders
Results and racecards
Listen: 5 live Grand National preview
'As excellent a round of jumping as you'll see'
Might Bite, the 4-5 favourite, revealed no ill effects from the epic battle when he finished second to Native River in last month's Gold Cup.
The nine-year-old, ridden by Nico de Boinville, just had one genuine challenger in grey Bristol De Mai, with Definitly Red an early faller.
Might Bite slipped up at the 4th last however soon recuperated and was foot-perfect otherwise.
"He's a splendid animal and a joy to ride. He leapt with genuine panache and gusto," said De Boinville.
Henderson stated: "That was as great a round of leaping as you'll ever see. He was simply on it the whole way - he was doing insane things."
Henderson showed the winner may contest the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November before seeking to safeguard his King George VI Chase title at Kempton.
L'Ami Serge (6-1) has finished second 11 times in his career, however made no error this time in the Aintree Hurdle.
He surged late under jockey Daryl Jacob to pass Supasundae.
It was a double for Jacob, and owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, after We Have A Dream (2-1) was an easy winner of the four-year-old juvenile hurdle.
Earlier, 5-2 chance Finian's Oscar, trained by Colin Tizzard, won at the National conference for the 2nd successive year with a late grow to take the Big Buck's Celebration Manifesto Novices' Chase.
Cornelius Lysaght, BBC horse racing reporter
Might Bite was splendid on ground that wasn't ideal. One fluff didn't pick up a second the inevitability up the home directly that he would collect in Bristol De Mai.
It's fair to state that at the moment, especially with Sprinter Sacre retired and Cue Card soon to go, jump racing is a little bit brief of the sort of equine star that takes the sport out of the racing village and behind.
But Might Bite, with his excellent name and outstanding talent, could quickly be the one.
Disney finishes course as Balnaslow wins
The 2017 runner-up Balnaslow, ridden by Derek O'Connor for trainer Graham McKeever, went one much better in the Foxhunters' Chase.
Balnaslow (11-2) challenged at the 2nd last, before pulling two and a half lengths clear of Bear's Affair.
Disney, who lost part of a leg in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Afghanistan in 2009, said after the race: "It's very special.
"Riding with Jamie Codd, simply in front of you, and Derek O'Connor and Nina Carberry along with, popping away - it's amazing."
Lilbitluso, a 10-year-old trained by John O'Shea, was put down after falling at the Canal Turn.
Ladies' Day on Friday
Day two of the National meeting is Ladies' Day, with a crowd of about 45,000 expected at the Merseyside course for what is always a colourful event.
On the track, Irish challengers Balko Des Flos and Min feature in the Melling Chase.
Balko Des Flos, trained by Henry de Bromhead, supplied owner Michael O'Leary with a first success in the Ryanair Chase - which his airline sponsors - at last month's Cheltenham Festival.
Min was second for Willie Mullins in the Queen Mother Champion Chase behind winner Altior.
Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen will want to extend his winning record over the National fences in the Topham Chase.
Waley-Cohen, who has actually won 6 races over the well-known obstacles, rides Theatre Territory for trainer Warren Greatrex.
Friday schedule
Live protection (Perpetuity BST)
14:00 -15:50: 5 live Racing on sports extra, with commentary of the main races likewise on BBC Radio 5 live.
Racecard
13:45: Alder Hey Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
14:20: Betway Top Novices' Hurdle 2m 1/2 f
14:50: Betway Mildmay Novices' Steeple Chase 3m 1f
15:25: JLT Melling Steeple Chase 2m 4f
16:05: Randox Health Topham Steeple Chase 2m 5f
16:40: Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle 3m 1/2 f
17:15: Weatherbys Private Bank Standard Open NH Flat 2m 1f
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