ANNIE Power is the star name among six runners in Thursday's Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old became the first mare in 22 years to claim Champion Hurdle glory at last month's Cheltenham Festival and returns to action a shade over three weeks later on the opening day of the Crabbie's Grand National meeting.

Annie Power is reopposed by the second, third and fourth at Cheltenham in Nicky Henderson's My Tent Or Yours, her stable companion Nichols Canyon and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained The New One, winner of this prize in 2014.

Champion Hurdle ninth Camping Ground and Court Minstrel from Evan Williams' yard complete the field.

Willie Mullins has declared both Djakadam and Don Poli for the Betfred Bowl Chase at Aintree on Thursday.

The pair finished second and third respectively in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup behind Don Cossack last month.

Cue Card heads the opposition in the Grade 1 and will bid to make amends for his untimely fall in the Gold Cup.

Colin Tizzard's charge had won Haydock's Betfair Chase and the King George VI Chase at Kempton and was travelling ominously well when coming down at the third-last fence.

Another interesting contender is Saphir Du Rheu. Winner of the Mildmay Novices' Chase at this meeting 12 months ago, the Paul Nicholls-trained grey has been mixing chasing with hurdling again this term. Second in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham last season, he was sixth to Cue Card's stablemate Thistlecrack in that race last month.

Completing the nine are David Pipe's Dynaste, Venetia Williams' Houblon Des Obeaux, the Rebecca Curtis-trained Irish Cavalier, Jonjo O'Neill's Taquin Du Seuil and Wakanda from Sue Smith's stable.

Don't miss Saturday's edition for all the latest analysis, tips and racecard to the Crabbie's Grand National