Might Bite supreme in Betway Bowl - but he wasn't as good as Cue Card

Clearly none the worse for his Cheltenham exertions, Might Bite (173) ran out an impressive winner of the Betway Bowl, in process earning a figure only a pound shy of that earned in that epic tussle with Native River in the Gold Cup.

Only 2016 winner Cue Card (176) has posted a better figure in Aintree's opening day highlight in the last decade and Might Bite left the impression that he had more to offer had he faced a more serious challenge. He is operating consistently at a very high level and, granted some better ground, should be capable of running to a rating in excess of 175.

To be fair to runner-up Bristol De Mai (166), he ran his best race since bolting up in the mud at Haydock in November, but yesterday's figure didn't even match the 172 he ran to first time up when giving weight at a beating to stablemate Blaklion at in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby.