After running well all season, Mouse Morris’ First Lieutenant landed the Grade 1 Betfred Bowl at the Aintree Festival in tremendous fashion and looks set to bid to strike again at the top level with connections seriously considering a crack at the Bet Online with TheTote.com Punchestown Gold Cup on April 24.

After a fine effort at the Cheltenham Festival last month when runner-up to Cue Card in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase, First Lieutenant went one better at Aintree with a gutsy display to get the better of the determined pair of Menorah and Silviniaco Conti to confirm himself one of the best three-mile chasers in the business.

A leading candidate for next season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, Morris’ rising star seems likely to bid to follow-up at Punchestown where he could well be joined in the line-up by both Sir Des Champs – second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup to Bobs Worth - and Quito de la Roque.

The powerful Gigginstown House Stud, owned by the flamboyant Michael O’Leary, boss of the discount international airline, Ryanair, owns each of the three horses.

According to Betfair’s in-play hints, First Lieutenant has improved more than a stone on official ratings this season and has barely run a bad race. He failed by just a length to peg back Kauto Stone in the JNWine.com Chase at Down Royal in November, than ran a commendable third to Bobs Worth in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury a month later.

The eight-year-old led on the run-in but was then caught in the last two strides by the remarkable Tidal Bay in a pulsating renewal of the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown‘s Christmas fixture. He then returned refreshed after his mid-season break to run so well at both Cheltenham and Aintree and has been installed a 5/1 shot in the horse race betting to continue his great season at Punchestown.