Gunnery has ammunition to see off rivals in his chasing debut

GUNNERY has the necessary ammunition to see off his rivals in the Valda Energy Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Trainer Nicky Henderson has made no secret of his liking for this horse and is conscious the lightly-raced six-year-old must have some cut in the ground.

The son of Le Havre has had just the two outings over jumps after a fair career on the flat and has made a promising start to this discipline, with a second place at Bangor and going one better at Market Rasen.

Thanks to such low-profile races, Gunnery could well be running off a decent mark and is still very much unexposed with bags of potential.

Henderson can also strike with Birchdale in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase.

The five-year-old looked a most exciting prospect when winning his first two races over the smaller obstacles, but found the three miles of the Albert Bartlett too far.

The drop back to two and a half miles for his chasing debut is an obvious move that can reap dividends.

Bun Doran is 12lb higher than when winning the BetVictor Handicap Chase 12 months ago - but his love for this course can nullify that effect.

The eight-year-old was runner-up in two subsequent visits to Cheltenham last term, including when second in the Grand Annual at the Festival off just a 2lb lower mark.

With trainer Tom George’s stable having had such a good autumn, Bun Doran could well defy his handicap rating.

There are no flat meetings in the UK tomorrow, which is why there are no racecards in today’s M.E.N. Sport.