Aintree 2015: Wetherbys Champion Bumper preview (17:15)

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has made a flying start to the three-day Aintree meeting, and Persian Delight can provide him with another success in a wide-open renewal of the Champion Bumper (17:15).

The gelding has only had one start, but could not have been more impressive when sluicing up by 12 lengths at Taunton.

After being held-up in the last trio, Persian Delight made smooth headway at halfway and after leading on the bit two from home quickened clear to win unextended.

It was a taking performance which suggested the five-year-old was a very smart prospect, and Persian Delight is bred to be useful as he is a half-brother to the smart hurdler Royal Shakespeare.

This does represent a big step up in class, but Persian Delight is open to stacks of progress and can take it his his stride for a stable that can do little wrong at present.

Barters Hill is unbeaten in three runs, and is a big player judged on his last success in a Listed contest at Newbury.

The five-year-old made all and found plenty when challenged inside the final furlong to beat Buveur D’air, and the pair finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of Altior, who is held in high regard by trainer Nicky Henderson.

There was also plenty to like about the performance of Buveur D’air, a stable companion to Persian Delight, on his British debut having won two races in France and he won’t have to find much to make his presence felt.

Trainer Nicky Richards is having a good season, and his Western Rules is another well worth consideration.

The five-year-old has won both his starts in good style on heavy ground, and showed nice turn of foot and good attitude when beating Showboater at Newcastle back in December.

His shrewd handler has since given the son of Westerner a break to freshen him up, and there is every possibility that the quicker ground will be in his favour.