Who can lay down an early season marker by mopping up a strong Persian War?

Friday: 2.10 Chepstow
Unibet Persian War Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) |2m3½f | 4yo+ | ITV4/SKY

This is a race that is getting better every year and we can see that is a fact by comparing the Racing Post Ratings of recent winners with the figures of those further back.

The average RPR of a Persian War winner from 2012-2016 was 140, but in the last five years that has increased to 145. That is quite a big jump considering the short time period.

This year’s event looks right up to scratch, with all bar one horse coming into the race off the back of a win. Dan Skelton is out to lay down a marker for the season ahead with his promising six-year-old Quid Pro Quo, who is bidding to make it four wins from five runs.

He returned from more than a year off the track to land back-to-back victories over hurdles this summer and an RPR of 135 for his latest victory at Newton Abbot was a big career best.

That doesn’t set the standard, though. Presentandcounting reached a rating of 136 when landing a novice handicap hurdle at Worcester on his last outing and nothing has got within ten lengths of him on his last three starts. If he can repeat that in this stronger race, he’d be Cheltenham material.

Paul Nicholls has had four winners and two placed from 11 runners in the last ten seasons, so could it be significant that he relies solely on Outlaw Peter? He saw the back of Constitution Hill at Sandown last December, but this will be easier and Outlaw Peter won well last time.

That came at Kempton back in May and he has been off the track for 158 days since, but all four of Nicholls’ previous winners in the last ten years were coming off a break. So fitness isn’t going to be an issue and he might be best fresh, given it is his second run after wind surgery.

Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Accidental Rebel
It's a good race, competitive, but he's a good each-way price at 14-1. He's done nothing wrong and we'll find out more about him. He's in great form and hopefully he can keep progressing. He's got fitness on his side and we've saved him for this since his last run.

Harry Fry, trainer of Deeper Blue
We were pleased with how he ended last season and we're hoping he can start in the same vein. He ran well over course and distance last year behind Stage Star, who went on to win the Challow. It's competitive, but he's ready to go and do himself justice. We brought him back in a bit earlier than some of ours because we knew we'd aim him at this and we've been very happy with him at home.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Quid Pro Quo and Gentle Connections
Quid Pro Quo has been progressive and has only been beaten once in his life when he wasn't right. We've given him time and he's won twice since. This is a different ball game, but we're happy with him at home. I haven't got any negatives. Gentle Connections has been remarkable and has won her last four. She's been freshened up since her last run and doesn't carry the numbers Quid Pro Quo does, but she's experienced and it would be helpful if she got some black type. Hand on heart, I don't think she'll beat Quid Pro Quo, but some black type would be great.
Reporting by James Burn

Read more Friday previews . . .

1.50 Newmarket: 'I can't believe the odds and I expect our filly to outrun them'

2.25 Newmarket: Unexposed or solid form? Analysis and trainer insight for the Oh So Sharp Stakes

3.00 Newmarket: Can Sacred follow up her wide-margin success in Thoroughbred Stakes?

3.35 Newmarket: Fillies' Mile: Gosden confident as Commissioning bids to back up big reputation

Chepstow: 'You hope this is a good slot for him' - O'Neill tries Cloth Cap in new sphere

The jumps season is coming! Pick up your copy of The Big Jump Off, packed with everything you need to get you excited for the 2022-23 National Hunt season. Free in the Racing Post on Monday, October 17, it's got 72 pages of unbeatable content including ante-post tips, guest columnists, divisional analysis and much more content