Day one of the 2026 Grand National Festival kicks off on Thursday with four Grade 1 contests for racing fans to enjoy.This card features the 2024 Foxhunters’ Champion, It’s On The Line, who bids to reverse the form from last month’s Cheltenham Festival.Our expert, Liam Watson, has a trio of selections from the card at Aintree.talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 on racing get £25 in free betsThursday’s horse racing tips 2.20 Aintree- Mambonumberfive @ 14/1 3.30 Aintree – Its On The Line @ 9/2 4.05 Aintree- Brighterdaysahead @ 2/1 2.20 Aintree – MambonumberfiveThe second race on the card is the Manifesto Novices’ Chase and it’s no surprise to see Nicky Henderson’s gelding, Lulamba, at the top of the betting. Lulamba was last seen finishing third in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival and he has always looked like the 2m trip is too short for him, so he should relish the 2m4f on offer for this race.However, he heads to Aintree off the back of a hard race at the Festival, so it might be worth taking an each-way chance on Mambonumberfive, who skipped Cheltenham and is now fresh to do battle.Ben Pauling’s gelding was last seen disappointing in the Kingmaker at Warwick, but he hated the heavy ground conditions that day. On his penultimate run, he was a comfortable winner of a Grade 2 at Kempton.Now back on a sounder surface, Mambonumberfive looks a major player to return to the winners’ enclosure. 3.30 Aintree – Its On The LineThis year’s Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase looks like one of the most competitive renewals of recent times..Barton Snow’s claims are clear, as his trainer Joe O’Shea won this race last year. His gelding comes into this after winning the Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, travelling powerfully throughout.However, the verdict goes to the Emmet Mullin’s trained Its On The Line, who finished a neck-second behind Barton Snow at the Festival. He has always performed better away from Cheltenham and handles Aintree well after winning this race in 2024. He looks capable of reversing the form with Barton Snow. 4.05 Aintree – BrighterdaysaheadThe 4.05 Aintree Hurdle is another competitive renewal with the second, third, fourth and fifth in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival all lining up.Dan Skelton’s yard is in rare form this season, and it would be no surprise to see his stable star, The New Lion, improve for stepping up in trip as it has always looked like 2m4f is his ideal distance.However, Brighterdaysahead, who’s been having a back-and-forth battle with the Champion Hurdle winner, Lossiemouth, all season, winning once and finishing second twice, should prove too tough to beat in the absence of that rival. Brighterdaysahead brings the best form into this race and she should also relish the trip, as she is a proven Grade 1 winner at 2m4f. talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 on racing get £25 in free bets