Grand National Festival – Odds-on favourite Might Bite won the Betway Bowl for Nico de Boinville and Nicky Henderson at Aintree racecourse
Nicky Henderson's Might Bite answered the doubters with an emphatic response as he bounced back from his Cheltenham Gold Cup defeat with a fantastic performance to win the Betway Bowl at Aintree.
MIGHT BITE (4-5) showed no signs of wear and tear from a Cheltenham Gold Cup battle as he produced his brilliant best to win the Betway Bowl at Aintree.
Nicky Henderson's nine-year-old once again, as he did when winning the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, sat off Bristol De Mai (5-1) for a circuit before becoming embroiled in a lengthy battle with the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained grey.
Same battle, same winner.
Despite hitting the fourth last, Nico de Boinville asked Might Bite for his final effort in the straight and he jumped into the lead two out before extending clear to win by seven lengths.
De Boinville said: "He's a magnificent animal and a joy to ride. He jumped with real panache and gusto.
"The ground is on the soft side and he really does feel that. He's one who will actually die for you. I'm privileged to ride him."
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Henderson said: "That was as good a round of jumping as you'll ever see. He was just on it the whole way - he was doing crazy things.
"The horse was just enjoying himself. He's been telling us he's right, but you just can't tell until you run them how much they have left in the Cotswolds (Cheltenham).
"That's obviously it for this season. We'll be a bit braver next year, though, and we might have a crack at the Betfair (Chase, Haydock).
"To defend the King George is the obvious one, but if the ground is reasonable we will think about starting in the Betfair on the way to the King George."
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Nigel Twiston-Davies said of Betfair Chase winner Bristol De Mai: "We've finally discovered we are not as good as the top one.
"He is very good, but we want to win. We will be back for the Charlie Hall and Betfair and those sort of things next season.
"Everything was right today, there were no excuses. I thought we might have beaten him and I thought we had, but we didn't.
"Well done them, they have the better horse. If we have the third best chaser in him, that's not bad. I'm sure there is another good one in him."