Four stars set to return at Chepstow's two-day fixture this week

This week's jumps season opener at Chepstow marks the start of the National Hunt season proper and here are four horses – plus some potential stars – who could begin their seasons with a bang at the two-day meeting kicking off on Friday.

Deeper Blue

2.10 Chepstow, Friday

This sizeable chestnut finished second at this fixture last year when chasing home subsequent Grade 1 winner Stage Star and looked to have turned a corner when winning twice in March.

Harry Fry is renowned for his patient approach, so it is interesting he has chosen to enter this horse in the Grade 2 Persian War, which often sees smart second-season novice hurdlers clash.

Harry Fry: trains decent prospect Deeper BlueCredit: Edward Whitaker

The six-year-old is by Envoi Allen's sire Muhtathir and could be of interest for a novice chasing campaign in the future.

Kitty's Light

2.17 Chepstow, Saturday

The diminutive staying handicapper earned a legion of fans through his admirable performances in the top staying handicap chases and it is hard to believe he is just a six-year-old given his relative experience.

Kitty's Light (nearest): rarely seems to run a bad raceCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Although winless last season, he put up several gargantuan efforts when runner-up in the Charlie Hall, Coral Trophy and Scottish Grand National.

He is only 1lb higher than when second in this race last year and should be in for another productive season.

McFabulous

2.52 Chepstow, Saturday

The gelding has always been highly regarded by champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who has won this race with Southfield Theatre and Grand Sancy in the last decade.

He will go chasing for the first time as an eight-year-old, but there is promise in his pedigree as his half-brother Waiting Patiently won at the highest level over fences.

McFabulous signed off last season in excellent form with a fifth Graded victory and this could be the season he claims his first Grade 1 win.

Knappers Hill

4.02 Chepstow, Saturday

The Silver Trophy has been the springboard for several stars and given this is a meeting Paul Nicholls tends to target, it is surprising he has only won the race once with Taranis in 2006.

Knappers Hill: a cosy winner at Sandown when last seenCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

This promising type scooped a valuable prize at Sandown when last seen in April, taking his record to seven wins from ten starts.

His rating of 141 will demand more but he is open to improvement and will surely relish the fast ground.

Others to note

Dancingontheedge looked a mare of considerable talent when winning her bumper at Worcester and takes to hurdles for the first time on Friday for Paul Nicholls.

Gary Moore and Olly Harris enjoyed Grade 1 success when Porticello won the Finale Hurdle at this course last year and Frankel three-year-old Age Of Sail is an eyecatching entry in Saturday's opening juvenile hurdle.

Winning point-to-pointer Byorderofthecourt and Pentire Head, owned by Nicholls' landlord Paul Barber, could give the trainer a sixth win in the last seven years in the concluding bumper.

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