Lossiemouth to conquer Constitution Hill

Lossiemouth is fancied to come out on top in a fascinating clash with Constitution Hill for the William Hill Aintree Hurdle on Thursday.

Seven Barrows superstar Constitution Hill was a decisive winner when the pair crossed paths for the first time in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day, but just over three months later there is reason to believe the result may be different.

Lossiemouth appeared to be taken off her feet over a sharp 3200m around Kempton, but was only beaten 2.5-lengths at the line and she has since bounced back from a crunching fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle with a dominant defence of her Mares' Hurdle crown at Cheltenham.

Constitution Hill, on the other hand, came to grief for the first time in the Cotswolds, eventually paying the price for standing off his obstacles when clipping the fourth from home and tumbling to the Prestbury Park turf.

The eight-year-old has reportedly undergone extensive schooling since and if the Aintree Hurdle were over 3200m, there is every chance Nicky Henderson's pride and joy would have too much speed for Lossiemouth once again.

However, the 4000m trip is Lossiemouth's optimum and in receipt of 7lb, the longer distance may just tip the balance in her favour.

The opening EBC Group Manifesto Novices' Chase also throws up a Henderson-Mullins dust-up and it is the reigning British and Irish champion trainer who is once again expected to come out on top.

A step back up to 4000m looks the right way to go with Henderson's Jango Baie judged on his late surge to lift the Arkle at Cheltenham, but that hard-fought victory was only three weeks ago and the obvious question is whether this will come too soon.

The Mullins-trained Impaire Et Passe has been kept fresh for this meeting since finishing third at the Dublin Racing Festival in February, just as he was last year when coming out on top in a pulsating three-way finish with Bob Olinger and Langer Dan in the Aintree Hurdle.

With cheekpieces added for the first time, the seven-year-old is a confident pick.

Lulamba's defection has thrown the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle wide open and at the prices, it may be worth taking an each-way punt on Harry Derham's Filibustering.

A useful sort on the Flat for Tim Easterby, the Postponed gelding could hardly have been more impressive on his hurdling debut at Kelso in February and while the form is possibly nothing special, he looks capable of holding his own at a higher level.

Spillane's Tower gets the vote in the Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase.

Jimmy Mangan's stable star won twice at Grade One level as a novice over fences last season and made a hugely encouraging start to the current campaign when splitting Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan at Punchestown.

On the strength of that elite form, Spillane's Tower was favourite for the King George on Boxing Day and while his performance in finishing fifth was a shade underwhelming, it is easily forgiven considering this year's renewal was largely blown apart by Il Est Francais.

He comes here fresh having been off the track since Christmas and a bold bid is anticipated.

My Drogo can continue his renaissance with victory over the Grand National fences in the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase, while this track is likely to play to strengths of the seriously talented but difficult to win with My Mate Mozzie in the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase.

Day one of the Grand National Festival concludes with the Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race, in which the speedily-bred Seo Linn should take some beating if reproducing her impressive Listed success at Cheltenham in November. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Thursday. Here are the tips.

AINTREE: Race 1: 14.45 IMPAIRE ET PASSE (NAP), Race 2: 15.20 Filibustering, Race 3: 15.55 Spillane's Tower, Race 4: 16.30 Lossiemouth, Race 5: 17.05 My Drogo, Race 6: 17.40 My Mate Mozzie, Race 7: 18.15 Seo Linn.

PLUMPTON: Race 1: 14.55 Miss Fedora, Race 2: 15.30 Dance The Moon, Race 3: 16.05 Ballela Blaze, Race 4: 16.40 Dear Ralphy, Race 5: 17.15 Lumi Plugin, Race 6: 17.50 Rip Wheeler.

SEDGEFIELD: Race 1: 15.07 Masterpiece, Race 2: 15.42 Tom Creen, Race 3: 16.17 Scar Bridge, Race 4: 16.52 Old Page, Race 5: 17.27 Star Vantage, Race 6: 18.02 Trailblazer.

CHELMSFORD: Race 1: 18.25 Night Arc, Race 2: 19.00 Shahbaz, Race 3: 19.30 Cape Sovereign, Race 4: 20.00 Sir Rodneyredblood, Race 5: 20.30 Yaroogh, Race 6: 21.00 Nammos, Race 7: 21.30 No Gain.

ALL TO COME: Impaire Et Passe and Lossiemouth (Aintree, Races 1 and 4).