Jango Baie headlines first day at Aintree

Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Jango Baie will headline a star-studded first day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree on Thursday.

The Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old is an odds-on chance for the Racing Welfare Bowl, one of four Grade 1 races on the card.

He will bid for a first top-level victory in a race over three miles having gone close in the King George at Kempton in December before finishing eight lengths behind Gaelic Warrior in the Cheltenham Festival highlight in March.

Jango Baie faces just four opponents, including Irish challenger Spillane’s Tower – who missed the Gold Cup – for Jimmy Mangan.

Willie Mullins also fields Impaire Et Passe, who disappointed in the Ryanair Chase.

Dan Skelton, who leads the charge in the British jumps trainers’ championship this season, saddles Protektorat while fellow eleven-year-old Pic D’Orhy also features.

The two placed horses from the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham will also line up on Thursday in the Aintree Hurdle. Brighterdaysahead was six lengths behind impressive winner Lossiemouth but pipped The New Lion for second.

The pair clash for just the second time and up half-a-mile in distance with 2024 Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace and four-time top-level winner El Fabiolo also set to run.

Lulamba steps up in distance to 2m3f after finishing a beaten favourite in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase.

Selma De Vary heads the market for the Grade 1 Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle, where she bids to reverse Triumph Hurdle form with Maestro Conti and Minella Study.