Williams seeking an answer to the stamina question with Agrapart

Betfred Rendlesham Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m7f, 4yo+ | ITV4/RUK

For a horse that landed a Betfair Hurdle over two miles only 53 weeks ago Agrapart has looked every inch a stayer, as trainer Nick Williams has steadily upped him in trip, with his best performance on ratings coming when winning an attritional Relkeel Hurdle over 2m4½f at Cheltenham last time.

Prior to that the son of Martaline was a decent fourth over just a furlong shy of this trip when fourth to the enigmatic but talented Blue Dragon at Auteuil, and if anything connections will be less concerned with the distance than the drying conditions on Merseyside.

Sam Twiston-Davies rides Aux Ptits Soins for the first time since landing the 2015 Coral Cup on the grey's first start in Britain and trainer Paul Nicholls will hope that a return to hurdles rekindles that sort of form following a couple of lacklustre efforts either side of his sole win over fences at Kelso in December.

Stablemate Zarkandar is also in need of a revival, although this is his first attempt at or around three miles since finishing third in the French Champion Hurdle in June 2015.

Nicholls said of his pair: "Aux Ptits Soins hasn't jumped fences particularly well and at Doncaster never jumped, so he's back over hurdles to sharpen him up. He's got a bit to prove now and so has Zarkandar, who would have won first time out [but for unseating at the last] but has been a bit disappointing since. We've freshened him up and we'd just like to see a bit of sparkle from them both, as they are well in at the weights and are capable of running tidy."

Desert Cry arrives here in search of a hat-trick after wins in handicaps at Bangor and Ayr, but might need some of his rivals to underperform to get involved, while Anteros looks vulnerable under a 4lb penalty for a Listed success at Cheltenham in November.