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 site More information
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 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 excellent a round of leaping as you'll see'
Might Bite, the 4-5 favourite, showed no ill results from the impressive duel 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 opposition in grey Bristol De Mai, with an early faller.
Might Bite made an error at the fourth last however soon recovered and was foot-perfect otherwise.
"He's a magnificent animal and a pleasure to ride. He jumped with real charisma and gusto," stated De Boinville.
Henderson said: "That was as excellent a round of leaping as you'll ever see. He was simply on it the entire way - he was doing insane things."
Henderson suggested the winner might contest the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November before looking to safeguard his King George VI Chase title at Kempton.
L'Ami Serge (6-1) has actually finished second 11 times in his profession, but made no error 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 obstacle.
Earlier, 5-2 opportunity Finian's Oscar, trained by Colin Tizzard, won at the National meeting 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 spectacular on ground that wasn't perfect. One fluff didn't stop for a second the inevitability up the home directly that he would gather in Bristol De Mai.
It's fair to state that at the moment, especially with Sprinter Sacre retired and Cue Card quickly to go, jump 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 impressive talent, might easily be the one.
Disney finishes course as Balnaslow wins
The 2017 runner-up Balnaslow, ridden by Derek O'Connor for fitness instructor Graham McKeever, went one much better in the Foxhunters' Chase.
Balnaslow (11-2) challenged at the 2nd 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, said after the race: "It's really special.
"Riding with Jamie Codd, just in front of you, and Derek O'Connor and Nina Carberry alongside, popping away - it's fantastic."
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 constantly a colourful celebration.
On the track, Irish challengers Balko Des Flos and Min feature in the Melling Chase.
Balko Des Flos, trained by Henry de Bromhead, provided 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 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 six races over the famous obstacles, rides Theatre Territory for fitness instructor Warren Greatrex.
Friday schedule
Live protection (Perpetuity BST)
14:00 -15:50: 5 live Racing on sports additional, 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
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