Exciting juvenile hurdler Lulamba was an unexpected absentee from declarations for the opening day of the Grand National Festival at Aintree.

Second in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the Nicky Henderson-trained Lulamba was favourite for the Grade 1 Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle but will not take up his expected engagement.

Stablemate Constitution Hill remains on course for a rematch with the Willie Mullins-trained Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle. The duo experienced markedly different fortunes at the Cheltenham Festival – Constitution Hill suffering a heavy fall during the dramatic Champion Hurdle won by Golden Ace, whilst Lossiemouth waltzed to an easy success in the Grade 1 Mares Hurdle. Constitution Hill was an easy victor over Lossiemouth when the pair last met in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, but the step up to two-and-a-half miles is expected to suit the mare, who is having her first start at Aintree.

Although Gordon Elliott's Brighterdaysahead was ruled out of the race on Monday, the Irish trainer will field his exciting mare Wodhooh – unbeaten in seven races over hurdles. She provided the yard's sole victory at the Cheltenham Festival in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle and will be an interesting contender stepped up in class for the first time.

Elsewhere on the card, Dan Skelton's Grey Dawning heads an eight-strong field for the Grade 1 Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase. The grey gelding missed a possible run in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in favour of an easier route to Aintree, winning the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso in mid-March. Willie Mullins will be represented by Gaelic Warrior, who steps up to 3m1f for the first time, whilst the Lucinda Russell-trained Ahoy Senor  brings Aintree form to the fore – having finished runner-up in this race twelve months ago.