Aintree: May 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 website More information
Might Bite leapt superbly to win the Betway Bowl as fitness instructor Nicky Henderson commemorated 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 likewise 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 finishers on Gallery Exhibition as Balnaslow won the Foxhunters' Chase.
Grand National: Runners and riders
Results and racecards
Listen: 5 live Grand National sneak peek
'As great a round of leaping as you'll see'
Might Bite, the 4-5 favourite, revealed no ill results from the legendary battle when he ended up second to Native River in last month's Gold Cup.
The nine-year-old, ridden by Nico de Boinville, only had one genuine challenger in grey Bristol De Mai, with Definitly Red an early faller.
Might Bite made a mistake at the fourth last however quickly recovered and was foot-perfect otherwise.
"He's a spectacular animal and a joy to ride. He jumped with genuine panache and gusto," stated De Boinville.
Henderson stated: "That was as good a round of leaping as you'll ever see. He was simply on it the whole way - he was doing insane things."
Henderson suggested the winner might 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 actually ended up second 11 times in his profession, but 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 difficulty.
Earlier, 5-2 chance Finian's Oscar, trained by Colin Tizzard, won at the National meeting for the second succeeding year with a to take the Big Buck's Celebration Manifesto Novices' Chase.
Cornelius Lysaght, BBC horse racing correspondent
Might Bite was magnificent on ground that wasn't perfect. One fluff didn't pick up a second the inevitability up the home straight that he would gather in Bristol De Mai.
It's fair to say that at the moment, specifically with Sprinter Sacre retired and Cue Card soon to go, leap racing is a tiny bit except the type of equine star that takes the sport out of the racing village and behind.
But Might Bite, with his excellent name and exceptional talent, might easily 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 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 extremely special.
"Riding with Jamie Codd, just in front of you, and Derek O'Connor and Nina Carberry along with, popping away - it's remarkable."
Lilbitluso, a 10-year-old trained by John O'Shea, was put down after falling at the Canal Turn.
Ladies' Day on Friday
Day 2 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 celebration.
On the track, Irish oppositions Balko Des Flos and Min function 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 company sponsors - at last month's Cheltenham Festival.
Min was 2nd for Willie Mullins in the Queen Mother Champion Chase behind winner Altior.
Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen will seek to extend his winning record over the National fences in the Topham Chase.
Waley-Cohen, who has actually won six races over the popular obstacles, rides Theatre Territory for fitness instructor Warren Greatrex.
Friday schedule
Live coverage (Perpetuity BST)
14:00 -15:50: 5 live Racing on sports extra, with commentary of the main races also 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
Pinstickers' guide to the Grand National
14 April 2018
What's it like to call the Grand National?
11 April 2018
Amputee jockey Disney to ride at Aintree
4 April 2018
Grand National
