Everything you need to know about day one of the Grand National meeting

Big races

The day one feature at Aintree is the Betway Bowl (2.50), a Grade 1 over 3m1f and featuring plenty of familiar names. The race has an illustrious honour roll, including two-time winners Wayward Lad, Docklands Express, First Gold and Silviniaco Conti.

Also on the card is the Aintree Hurdle (3.25) featuring several top-class performers including 2017 winner Buveur D'Air, while Britain's best juvenile hurdlers clash at 2.20 and novice chasers do battle in the opening Manifesto Novices' Chase (1.45).

Aintree day one card

The first of three races over the National fences at the meeting comes at 4.05 when 23 runners contest the Rose Paterson Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase, while some exciting prospects will be in action in the concluding Grade 2 Mares' Bumper (5.15).

Key horses

All eyes will be on dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll in the Betway Bowl, who takes on Clan Des Obeaux, Native River and Waiting Patiently in a cracker.

The Shunter, who earned connections a £100,000 bonus for winning the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso and the Plate at Cheltenham, tackles top-level company for the first time in the Manifesto and is a fascinating runner.

The Shunter: bids for a Grade 1 win in the Manifesto Novices' ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Two-time Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air bids for a second Aintree Hurdle and third victory at this meeting, having won the Top Novices' Hurdle in 2016.

Key jockey bookings

Jonjo O'Neill Jr takes over on Bowl contender Native River following the retirement of Richard Johnson last weekend and landed the Denman Chase on the 2018 Gold Cup winner last year.

In the same race, Jack Kennedy partners Tiger Roll for the first time since October 2017. He was ridden by Keith Donoghue when an authoritative winner of the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, while his regular rider at Aintree Davy Russell is on the sidelines.

Jack Kennedy: Gold Cup-winning jockey rides Tiger Roll in the Betway BowlCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

Rachael Blackmore starred at the Cheltenham Festival and has three rides on day one – Jason The Militant in the Aintree Hurdle, Jan Maat in the Red Rum Handicap Chase and Me Too Please in the Mares' Bumper.

Market movers

The aforementioned Jason The Militant was cut to a best price 9-2 (from 7) for the Aintree Hurdle on Tuesday. He was a close third in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November and breezed to a Grade 3 success in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Fairyhouse last time.

Jamie Codd rides the Denise Foster-trained Mighty Stowaway in the Foxhunters', who has been shortened to 16-1 (from 25). Codd won the race aboard On The Fringe in 2016 and it would be no surprise if support for Mighty Stowaway, sixth in the Hunters' Chase at Cheltenham, continues.

Star filly Eileendover was 7-4 favourite for the Mares' Bumper on Tuesday morning with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook but has been all the rage. She is now 4-5 with those firms and one of the shortest-priced runners at the meeting.

Going news

The ground is good to soft, good in places on the chase and hurdles tracks and good to soft on the National course.

Read more on Aintree . . .

Cheltenham heroes De Bromhead and Blackmore gunning for Grand National glory (Members' Club)

Grand National plunge: Paul Nolan upbeat as Discorama odds continued to tumble (Members' Club)

'A dream come true' – Foxtrot syndicate buzzing Hogan's Height National bid

'He's a hell of a horse' – Tom O'Brien can't wait for Thyme Hill at Aintree

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