Nicholls sweet on Predateur

Predateur entered calculations for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham when smoothly opening his account over jumps for Paul Nicholls in the Staple Fitzpaine Introductory Novices' Hurdle at Taunton.

In slamming Gracechurch by nine lengths under Ruby Walsh, the 4-5 favourite paid a compliment to his Wincanton conqueror Liberate, although connections will swerve the Festival unless there is plenty of cut in the ground.