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 details
Might Bite leapt wonderfully to win the Betway Bowl as fitness instructor Nicky Henderson commemorated a treble on the opening day of Aintree's Grand National conference.
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 becoming 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 preview
'As great a round of leaping as you'll see'
Might Bite, the 4-5 favourite, showed no ill results from the impressive duel when he completed second to Native River in last month's Gold Cup.
The nine-year-old, ridden by Nico de Boinville, only had one real opposition in grey Bristol De Mai, with Definitly Red an early faller.
Might Bite slipped up at the 4th last however quickly recovered and was foot-perfect otherwise.
"He's a stunning animal and a pleasure to ride. He jumped with genuine panache and gusto," stated De Boinville.
Henderson stated: "That was as good a round of jumping as you'll ever see. He was just on it the entire way - he was doing insane things."
Henderson indicated the winner may contest the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November before wanting to safeguard his King George VI Chase title at Kempton.
L'Ami Serge (6-1) has completed second 11 times in his career, however made no mistake this time in the Aintree Hurdle.
He rose 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 a simple winner of the four-year-old juvenile difficulty.
Earlier, 5-2 possibility Finian's Oscar, by Colin Tizzard, won at the National conference for the second successive year with a late thrive to take the Big Buck's Celebration Manifesto Novices' Chase.
Cornelius Lysaght, BBC horse racing correspondent
Might Bite was splendid on ground that wasn't perfect. One fluff didn't pick up a 2nd the inevitability up the home straight that he would collect in Bristol De Mai.
It's reasonable to say that at the moment, especially with Sprinter Sacre retired and Cue Card soon to go, jump racing is a tiny bit except the kind of equine star that takes the sport out of the racing town and behind.
But Might Bite, with his fantastic name and exceptional skill, 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 second 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 really unique.
"Riding with Jamie Codd, simply in front of you, and Derek O'Connor and Nina Carberry alongside, 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 anticipated at the Merseyside course for what is always a vibrant event.
On the track, Irish oppositions Balko Des Flos and Min function in the Melling Chase.
Balko Des Flos, trained by Henry de Bromhead, provided owner Michael O'Leary with a first victory in the Ryanair Chase - which his airline company 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 look to extend his winning record over the National fences in the Topham Chase.
Waley-Cohen, who has actually won six races over the famous barriers, trips Theatre Territory for trainer Warren Greatrex.
Friday schedule
Live coverage (All times BST)
14:00 -15:50: 5 live Racing on sports additional, with commentary of the primary 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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