Morris aiming War at Nicholson
The progressive six-year-old is also entered in the Killultagh Properties Ltd Chase over two and a half miles on the same card.
War Of Attrition kept on well to beat Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King by three lengths last time out and Morris is now keen to test the gelding’s stamina over three miles.
When asked if there had a been a decision on War Of Attrition’s target at the weekend, Morris said: “Not at the minute but I’d be favouring the three-miler although he wouldn’t run if it was heavy ground. I wouldn’t mind soft ground but not heavy.
“The three-miler might be a good race to find out if he’d stay. I don’t see why he shouldn’t stay but you still have to find out.
“The way he relaxed the other day in Punchestown it looked like he would get three miles.”
Devon trainer Victor Dartnall has ruled Lord Sam out of the race.
The nine-year-old was one of the top novice chasers around in the 2003-2004 campaign when he was unbeaten in his fours starts over fences.
But he failed to add to that score last term and was pulled up behind Kicking King in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on St Styephen's Day on his last outing.
“He doesn’t run at Down Royal. He goes to Cheltenham for the Paddy Power, that’s the plan at the moment,” the Barnstaple-based handler said.
“One would hope he is (back to his best). We shall see at Cheltenham.
“He’s only nine and he hasn’t had a lot of racing. It would be nice to get him on track again.”
Beef Or Salmon will “most likely” try and win the James Nicholson for the second year running.
Michael Hourigan’s charge beat Kicking King 12 months ago but has not raced since being pulled up in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
There are eight other entries in the Grade One race, including Topham Chase winner Cregg House, who has been added to the field, and Arthur Moore’s evergreen 12-year-old Native Upmanship.
