Ammunition has the firepower to defy topweight in this competitive contest which may see Noble Sham and Donald Will Do emerge as his nearest challengers. Carl Llewellyn's charge was unfortunate to come down over this course and distance on his penultimate start and has since been dropped a pound for his third place over a patently inadequate 2 miles 5. This test looks ideal. Noble Sham was travelling like a winner at Hereford on what was just his second start over fences; he's just 2lbs higher now and has to be feared as he's more than capable of winning races from this mark. Donald Will Do has also shown enough in qualifying for a handicap mark to suggest that he can pay his way in the fullness of time. That trio make most appeal in an open heat but Golden Oak and Rowley Hill have the ability to feature here whilst Hello Bud and Forest Mill are also considered. The suggestion though, is Ammunition.
Ammunition (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Held up, outpaced 9th, mistake 10th, headway 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Pasagai (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Dec.
Donald Will Do (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Led, headed 9th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 13, 48l behind Rimsky (10-11) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (5) sft in Dec.
Rowley Hill 2-1fav (11-11) Mid-division, ridden after 9th, weakened after 13th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by River Indus (10-6) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Golden Oak (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Behind, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, weakened approaching last, 6th of 15, 8l behind Kathleens Pride (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Forest Miller 3-1 (11-3) Hampered 1st, led or disputed lead, led 11th, headed 13th, ridden and one pace when hit 3 out, 5 lengths down and disputing 2nd when fell at the last in race won by Eskimo Jack (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in May, 8 ran.
Noble Sham 6-1 (11-11) Mid-division, hampered 2nd, headway 13th, hit 4 out, upsides winner when fell 3 out in race won by Carnt Spell (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
Muttley Maguire (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Led and disputed, definite advantage when hit 4 out, joined last, kept on well, won at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Nov '05 beating Majestic Moonbeam (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
River Indus 8-1 (10-0) In touch, tailed off and hampered 17th, no chance after, 5th of 12, well behind Nykel (11-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Hello Bud (IRE) 15-2 (10-11) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 12th, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 14l behind Maori Legend (10-4) at Towcester 3m chs 0-90 (5) sft in Dec.
Gray's Eulogy 20-1 (10-13) Led until fell at the 14th in race won by Carnt Spell (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
Phareight Dei (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Mid-division, weakened approaching 9th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Pitful Tercah (10-2) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec, 18 ran.
