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 additional and the BBC Sport site More information
Might Bite jumped magnificently to win the Betway Bowl as fitness instructor Nicky Henderson celebrated 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 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 preview
'As great a round of jumping as you'll see'
Might Bite, the 4-5 favourite, showed no ill effects from the impressive battle when he completed second to Native River in last month's Gold Cup.
The nine-year-old, ridden by Nico de Boinville, just had one real opposition in grey Bristol De Mai, with Definitly Red an early faller.
Might Bite slipped up at the fourth last however quickly recovered and was foot-perfect otherwise.
"He's a spectacular animal and a happiness to ride. He leapt with genuine flair and gusto," said De Boinville.
Henderson stated: "That was as excellent a round of leaping as you'll ever see. He was just on it the whole method - he was doing insane things."
Henderson indicated the winner may contest the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November before aiming to safeguard his King George VI Chase title at Kempton.
L'Ami Serge (6-1) has finished second 11 times in his profession, but made no error this time in the Aintree Hurdle.
He surged late under 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 possibility Finian's Oscar, trained by Colin Tizzard, won at the National meeting for the 2nd 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 stop for a second 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 quickly to go, leap racing is a little bit brief of the kind of equine star that takes the sport out of the racing village and behind.
But Might Bite, with his great name and outstanding talent, could easily be the one.
Disney completes 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 second last, before pulling 2 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, stated after the race: "It's really special.
"Riding with Jamie Codd, simply in front of you, and Derek O'Connor and Nina Carberry together 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 2 of the National meeting is Ladies' Day, with a crowd of about 45,000 anticipated at the Merseyside course for what is constantly a colourful event.
On the track, Irish challengers 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 very first success 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 seek to extend his winning record over the National fences in the Topham Chase.
Waley-Cohen, who has won six races over the famous obstacles, rides Theatre Territory for fitness instructor Warren Greatrex.
Friday schedule
Live coverage (All times BST)
14:00 -15:50: 5 live Racing on sports extra, 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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