Get the lowdown on Persian War as the jumps season cranks into gear

Unibet Persian War Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m3½f, 4yo+ | ITV4/Sky

The great and good of Flat racing might be in Newmarket splashing the cash at the sales this week, but Chepstow's October meeting signals the start of the jumps season proper and the Welsh track's feature looks right up to scratch.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has been responsible for its winner four times in the last nine years and saddles Trevelyn's Corn, whose £400,000 price tag would not have looked out of place among the blueblood yearlings in Book 1.

Potential favourite Fiddleronetheroof – a market mover in the week – was not cheap at £200,000 either, but looks a likely contender for the Robbie Power-Colin Tizzard axis.

Cheltenham Festival pointers might not be obvious though, with Reve De Sivola, a subsequent second in what was the Neptune, faring best of recent Persian War winners come the spring.

Hobbs hope

CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: James Bowen riding Master Debonair (white) win The High Sheriff Of Gloucestershire And Racing Remember Standard Open NH Flat Race from Thyme Hill at Cheltenham Racecourse on November 18, 2018 in Cheltenham, England. (PhoCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Philip Hobbs is another multiple winner of this contest and saddles Thyme Hill, who makes his hurdles debut and does so with a respectable third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March under his belt.

Brace ready despite claim pain

Connor Brace is among the weighing room's brightest young talents and rides his grandfather David's Paint The Dream, but the conditions of the race do not allow him to use his 5lb claim.

Curtis yard firing

Rebecca Curtis's fortunes could be on the up again as she has had ten winners already this season against 11 and nine in the previous two campaigns. She relies on Ruthless Article, the best horse in the field on official figures.

What they say

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Champagne Well and Paint The Dream
Champagne Well has done great over the summer and I'm very happy with him. He didn't really fire at Aintree in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle, but he ran a blinder when third in the EBF Final at Sandown. That was a cracking effort and I'm looking forward to him running, but I don't think he'd want the ground too soft. All Paint The Dream did last season was get better and better and he had a great summer at home with his owner David Brace – he came back looking an absolute picture. I'm not trying to be diplomatic, but there's nothing between them. At home, Paint The Dream has a bit more speed, but that's not what the race will be about. They both deserve to be there and will probably go chasing after this.

Rebecca Curtis, trainer of Ruthless Article
He's done really well over the summer, even if I think 140 is a high enough rating, and my concern is he's at the end of a long summer. We've nowhere else to go as he'd carry penalties in novice races and he's quite high for handicaps, so we thought we'd give this a go and then he'll have his break for the winter and go chasing next summer. We've had a good start to the season and all the horses seem in great form.

Some Day Soon: looked a progressive type over the summerCredit: Grossick Racing

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Some Day Soon
He's a horse I love and have always loved. I couldn't understand why he didn't win a novice hurdle last season, but then he bumped into some classy types. We gave him a break and then made hay while the sun shone this summer winning four, looking very progressive. He beat Ruthless Article last time out, giving him weight and he won his next two, so the form has been franked. Stepping up in trip can only help us, but I suppose softer ground is a bit of a worry, although he handled easy ground at Hexham in June.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Trevelyn's Corn
He's in good form and I've had this as his target since he came in as he's only a novice until November 1. He had a breathing op during the summer and will hopefully run well. He won late on last season and there wasn't much to go for, so we let him run at Aintree, but I don't think he really got three miles that day and was a bit free, so you can put a line through that race. He's a chaser more than a hurdler – a bit like Secret Investor in this last year – but this is an ideal spot and we've targeted him at it. It's a good race and will take some winning, but he's fit and well.

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