Top steeplechaser Kauto Star is fancied to get back to winning ways at Aintree on Thursday after failing to retain his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown last month.

The eight-year-old finished in second place behind stable-mate Denman.

With Ruby Walsh again riding, the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding faces old rivals Exotic Dancer and Monet's Garden in the totesport Bowl at 2.35pm.

Cheltenham winners Inglis Drever and Celestial Halo also run in the 2.00pm and 3.10pm respectively.

Thursday is the first day of the three-day Grand National Festival, and certain parts of the course have been watered to ensure the ground is no firmer than good. 

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