First set for repeat Bowl bid First Lieutenant is likely to defend his crown in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree next month following his late withdrawal from last week's Cheltenham Gold Cup. Mouse Morris' star chaser was due to line up in the blue riband event for the first time last Friday, but was taken out on the morning of the race after not eating up. The Fethard-based trainer feels his nine-year-old may have been at Prestbury Park too long and hopes his charge can gain compensation on Merseyside on April 3. Morris said: "He came home OK, but just OK. He lost a bit of weight during the trip, but hopefully he'll be all right in a few days. "I think I probably had him over in Cheltenham too long. He went over there on the Sunday before, so he was there nearly a week and maybe we should have waited a bit longer before sending him over. "It was disappointing, but we move on and if the ground is all right, he'll probably go back to Aintree. The ground would have to be right - he wouldn't go if it came up soft - so we'll see which way the weather goes over the next couple of weeks. "If all goes well, he could do Aintree and Punchestown."
