Brighterdaysahead can put her Cheltenham Festival defeat behind her to claim the William Hill Aintree Hurdle on the opening day of the Grand National Festival on Thursday.
Gordon Elliott's star mare was Lossiemouth's closest rival, albeit 6.5-lengths behind, in the Champion Hurdle at Prestbury Park to overturn the Irish Champion Hurdle result in February.
The seven-year-old is one of only two horses with previous course success on Merseyside when winning the Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle in 2024.
That was over course and distance, she retains her 7lb filly allowance and she finished 0.5-lengths ahead of The New Lion in Gloucestershire, so everything points towards a fifth Grade One triumph of Brighterdaysahead's career.
Lulamba will take on only four rivals in his bid to get back on the winning trail in the William Hill Manifesto Novices' Chase.
Nicky Henderson's five-year-old suffered his first defeat in five starts over fences when third in the Arkle at Cheltenham, but he will step into the unknown at 4000m in the Grade One contest.
Three of his rivals have tasted victory over this trip, but should Lulamba showcase his jumping quality and prove to handle the extended distance, it will be hard to look elsewhere.
Spillane's Tower will justify connections' decision to bypass the Randox Grand National with success in the Racing Welfare Bowl Chase.
The JP McManus-owned eight-year-old was well in the weights for Saturday's showpiece event, but he will instead be on the start line two days earlier for the race over 5000m.
Jimmy Mangan's charge pulled out of the Gold Cup due to sounder ground conditions and that could be a concern, but the Aintree track is due to be watered daily in the build-up to the Festival and that can boost Spillane's Tower's hopes of adding to his Cotswold Chase success in January.
Adam Nicol can continue his fairytale with stable star Minella Study in the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle, which kicks off the three-day meeting.
He had already had a hurdles success under his belt before moving to Seahouses and improved further to land a Listed race in Wetherby and impressively claim the JCB Triumph Hurdle trial in December.
Minella Study was headed late on for a gallant third in the JCB Triumph Hurdle last month and he can use that experience to progress even more at the top level.
Barton Snow looks to add the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase to his Cheltenham equivalent in a race targeted by trainer Joe O'Shea.
Harry Derham has his only runner of the day at Taunton with regular rider Paul O'Brien aboard Autonomous Cloud in the Stables Business Park Handicap Chase.
The 10-year-old has been operating at a higher grade this season, before and after his switch from Fergal O'Brien's yard in January, and the step down in class and better ground should further benefit his first attempt at 5600m.
On the level at Southwell, Polly Darling is an intriguing entry for Karl Burke in the Get Raceday Ready Fillies' Novice Stakes as she puts her unbeaten record on the line following a 362-day break.
The Hamad Al Jehani-trained Artagnan, who cost £350,000 as a two-year-old, should have too much quality as he kick-starts his 2026 season in the Free Bets On attheraces.com Handicap at Wolverhampton. - Press Association
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Thursday. Here are the tips.
AINTREE: Race 1: 14.45 Minella Study, Race 2: 15.20 Lulamba, Race 3: 15.55 Spillane's Tower, Race 4: 16.30 Barton Snow, Race 5: 17.05 BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD (NAP), Race 6: 17.40 Stencil, Race 7: 18.15 Ti'mamzel.
SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 15.07 Alfa Duplicate, Race 2: 15.42 She's Got A Brother, Race 3: 16.17 Fidelius, Race 4: 16.47 Polly Darling, Race 5: 17.25 Adjuvant, Race 6: 17.55 Down To The Kid, Race 7: 18.25 Violet Goldsmith.
TAUNTON: Race 1: 15.32 Minella Yoga, Race 2: 16.07 Noble Blue, Race 3: 16.40 Little Venice, Race 4: 17.15 Autonomous Cloud, Race 5: 17.50 Inferno Sacree, Race 6: 18.20 Hall Lane, Race 7: 18.55 Kilifi Creek.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 18.30 Port Noir, Race 2: 19.00 Astrological, Race 3: 19.30 Kento, Race 4: 20.00 Youarenotforgiven, Race 5: 20.30 Artagnan, Race 6: 21.00 On The Inlet, Race 7: 21.30 Siam Ruby.
DOUBLE: Barton Snow and Brighterdaysahead (Aintree, Races 4 and 5).