CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP runner-up Might Bite showed his class with a smooth victory in the Betway Bowl on the opening day of the 2018 Aintree festival.
After trainer Nicky Henderson deliberated over whether to run the nine-year-old so soon after Cheltenham, Might Bite showed no signs of fatigue by producing a brilliant performance over the fences, pulling clear of Bristol De Mai.
Clan Des Obeaux, owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, finished third.
It was Might Bite who stole the show, however, as the 4-5 favourite went one better than Cheltenham, winning by seven lengths in emphatic fashion.
“That was as good a round of jumping as you’ll ever see,” Henderson said afterwards. He was just on it the whole way — he was doing crazy things.”
Henderson also enjoyed opening day success with L’Ami Serge in the Aintree Hurdle and We Have A Dream, completing another memorable day for the British trainer.
Aintree day one results:
1.45 — 1. Finian’s Oscar (5-2f), 2. Rene’s Girl (8/1), 3. Calino D’Airy (33-1)
2.20 – 1. We Have A Dream (2-1), 2. Gumball (20-1), 3. Apple’s Shakira (13-8f)
2.50 – 1. Might Bite (4-5f), 2. Bristol De Mai (5-1), 3. Clan Des Obeaux (8-1)
3.25 – 1. L’Ami Serge (5-1), 2. Supasundae (11-10f), 3. Clyne (25-1)
4.05 – 1. Balnaslow (11-2), 2. Bear’s Affair (20-1), 3. Greensalt (66-1)
4.40 – 1. Bentelimar (10-1), 2. Theinval (5-1), 3. Gino Trail (10-1)
5.15 – 1. Getaway Katie Mai (15-8f), 2. Midnightreferendum (25-1), 3. Dulhallow Gesture (10-1)
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The peverbial game of 2 halves . Great 2nd half . COYS
@Sean Nihill: French clubs are so flakey. Have they ever beaten an English club in the last 10 years? 1-0 up at half time, Spurs lose Son and yet Marseille bottle it. Apart from PSG, the French League is a bit of a joke when it comes to CL.
@Tommy Bohan: I seem to remember Lyon dumping Man City out of the competition in the QF a couple of years ago.
@Tommy Bohan: Tommy there with your best Paul Merson impression.
Good laugh of a Wednesday morning – thanks
Absolutely gutted Spurs scabbed another jammy enough win, even tho it was a stunning goal from Hojberg. Nonetheless, the night isn’t about them but the mighty Adler from Frankfurt. Had to go to Lisbon and win tonight no matter what the other result was. A team that even I feared for ahead of the season’s start, but boy have they impressed. Not least lacking the player quality other team’s in the group harbour, but also completely financially inferior to the likes of Spurs. Came within seconds of winning the group too. Massive for a club run by fans with over 100,000 members. Huge for the German game too. So proud of Glasner and his men.
@Ultan Corcoran: Nice to read a post from an Irish person with some European knowledge and not one of the typical followers of English teams.
@Tommy Bohan: Resident expert..
@Tommy Bohan: Haha appreciate it Tommy. Nothing much against the English teams themselves, just prefer the game elsewhere. Try to keep a broad understanding of all football affairs if I can!
@Gary Donlan: That’s a very bland, general comment. Could you please expand on it?
@Tommy Bohan: i will. To regular readers on here, Ultan is said resident expert on German football. Gives a very informed and impassioned view on Der Bundesliga which is widely appreciated by many.
@Tommy Bohan: Ultan is well versed in all things German football, Tommy, I think is the gist of what Gary was getting at. Not sure about the claim to a broad understanding of football in general though, as that would lead to a knowledge that Spurs were utterly robbed last week by another absolute varce, fully deserved to go through and there was nothing scabby about it. He seems like a sound oul head though all the same, with an intricate knowledge of German football, especially Dortmund, where it wouldn’t surprise me if he knew the names of each of the squad’s respective pet hamsters.
@Gary Donlan: Apologies for that, didn’t get what you meant first time. As I said it’s nice to hear a different viewpoint.
@Stiofán Ó’Murchú: Hahahaha love that last bit. Ahhh I’ll be the first to admit I’ve a bit of a chip on my shoulder about Spurs. Since that UCL knockout tie a few years back and a couple hundred fans chanting ‘no German bombers’ in the square. That along with the big multi-million stadium stuff rubbed me up the wrong way. As for the scabby stuff it was unnecessary.. I just heard they’d been a bit lucky in recent weeks through mates who follow the prem. Probably isn’t the case. Best of luck to them and I enjoy watching their Bundesliga players like Son and Hojberg… who knows, could be another BVB – Spurs R16 post Christmas ;)
@Ultan Corcoran: arsenal fan ?
@Jim Casey: I like Arsenal but nope, nobody in England but if it push came to shove right now it be Leeds! It was obviously just a few hooligans involved anyway… I’m sure the greater spurs consensus are a good lot. I know a good 6-7 fans of them here and all a sound bunch.
Well that was exciting!!! COYS
sure where is the fun in doing it the easy way. Delighted…coys
But my god we really need to get this out-ball sorted, no connection between attack and defence. 2nd half was way better but only reason Spurs found themselves getting forward so much more is because of Marseille’s desperation at the other end. Anyway, we keep movin’ and prayin’ on the injury front
Lads, it’s spurs
@Aidy McBride: Grow up.
@Aidy McBride: Save it for Thursday night.
@Aidy McBride: c’mon Aidy this dark side to you isn’t going to well. Always thought you better than this.
@Aidy McBride: I’m worried about you
@Denis Ryan: all together now.
Oh what a night, watching football on a Tuesday night,
You play Thursday cos you’re……….
What a feeling, what a night