Wednesday night’s rain turned the ground soft at Aintree on the opening day of their 2016 Grand National Festival, and it looks prudent to concentrate on horses who like a bit of cut in the ground on day two.

We start with a competitive handicap hurdle over two-and-a-half miles and I will take a chance on the lightly-raced Irish raider Tycoon Prince (1.40) who has not been seen since finishing runner up to Bellshill (disappointed at Cheltenham) before Christmas. He has winning form on soft ground and looked a potential star when winning three of four Bumper starts.

The first Grade 1 race is the Novice Hurdle over the minimum trip and the mare Limini (2.15) can follow up her fluent Festival success in receipt of 7lbs from the boys. Agrapart should ensure Ruby Walsh has something to aim at and the mare is 11/10 at BetVictor.

I thought Buveur D’Air travelled well at Cheltenham and was badly positioned when his stablemate (Altior) went for home. He looks the main danger for Nicky Henderson.

The Novice Chase looks a match between Blaklion (2.50) and Un Temps Pour Tout, both winners at the Cheltenham Festival, and preference for the former is marginal. The selection was a revelation at Cheltenham and gets on extremely well for conditional Ryan Hatch. Un Temps Pour Tout beat Holywell in a competitive handicap on the opening day of last month’s Festival and is, arguably, a classier animal but Blaklion is aptly named and if it comes to a battle is the one I want to be with.

Vautour (3.25) cannot be opposed in the Melling Chase and the hope is that God’s Own can follow Willie Mullins’ star home, albeit, at a respectable distance.

The selection finished runner-up in the King George when he travelled like much the best horse and went one better when a facile winner of the Ryanair Chase last month despite connections expressing their concern that he hadn’t been working as well as he often does in the run up to the race.

The Topham is the big handicap of the week and my two against the field are Gullinbursti (4.05) and Mr Moonshine, with marginal preference for the former.

The selection comes here a fresh horse having had just two outings this season but he ran a cracker over the tighter Mildmay track here two years ago when third in a first-time visor from a 15lbs higher mark. Emma Lavelle’s string are going well at present and 25/1 (five places with BetVictor) is a fair price.

Mr Moonshine has a decent record around the National course and this intermediate 2m 5f trip is ideal for him; yes, he is in the twilight of his career at 12 but he can make them all go from the front and he could again be overpriced at 33/1.

Willie Mullins saddles four in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, won last year by Thistlecraft and we have only had one favourite win the race since Black Jack Ketchum landed the odds back in 2006. The opening race yesterday suggested horses who have bypassed Cheltenham will certainly not be inconvenienced and Ballydine (4/1 at BetVictor) swerved last month’s Festival, has winning form on soft ground and gets what can only be a tentative vote in what looks a competitive heat.

The finale sees Festival Bumper winner Ballyandy try and give weight and a beating to his 17 rivals; as with the stable’s Blaklion he is a really tough nut and must go close but I thought Utility (5.15) was very impressive on debut at Uttoxeter on soft ground and gets the each-way vote.

For all your racing odds check out BetVictor.com.