Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth set for Aintree clash as Hyland leads Grand National hopes for Nicky Henderson

Constitution Hill will clash with Cheltenham Festival heroine Lossiemouth in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle on Thursday.

Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson’s star performer is set to face six rivals on Merseyside, and the standout name amongst the opposition is Willie Mullins’ triple Festival winner.

Lossiemouth impressed once again at Prestbury Park when successfully defending her Mares’ Hurdle crown just over three weeks ago.

It will be the second time the duo have locked horns, with Constitution Hill coming out on top during his brilliant comeback victory in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day.

However, for the first time in his career he perhaps has a question to answer, having fallen in a dramatic Champion Hurdle.

Elsewhere in the race, after deciding against running Brighterdaysahead, Gordon Elliott will rely on another high-class mare in Wodhooh, who stretched her unbeaten record to seven in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Salver for Gary and Josh Moore, Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s Tellherthename, Break My Soul for Ian Donoghue and Take No Chances for Dan Skelton complete the line-up for the race, which will be shown live on Racing TV, who have the best Grand National free bets offers for the big race on Saturday.

Thirteen four-year-olds have been declared for the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle, but Henderson’s Lulamba is now a notable absentee, having been withdrawn from the race earlier this week.

The Triumph Hurdle runner-up does have the option of stepping up his trip against the elders in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle on Saturday, however.

At time of writing, there are a handful of local entries for the Grand National on Saturday, although all of these appear to be long shots, and may well be withdrawn by the end of the week.

Hyland leads the way for Nicky Henderson, although he is 20/1 and only tenth in the betting.

Chantry House also holds an entry for Henderson, although he was priced at 100/1 earlier this week.

Anything can happen in the National however, and both of these Lambourn contenders have every chance if they can make it to the final stages of the iconic race on Saturday.