The £120,000 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (registered as the Spa Novices Hurdle) (G1) featured a field of 17 older horses go 3 miles over 12 hurdles. 8-1 Weapon's Amnesty raced up close to the pace set by 25-1 Den of Iniquity, then moved up to challenge with 2 hurdles remaining. At the final jump he hooked 3-1 favorite Pride of Dulcote setting up a duel to the line. In the last strides Weapon's Amnesty pulled 1/2 a length in front for the win in 5:59.9. It was another 2 lengths back to 14-1 The Midnight Club third.
Winning jockey Davy Russell said, "I knew I didn't want to get there too early on him, but I couldn't stop him. I was hoping someone would come to me. He's a good horse and he wasn't doing a stroke in front. Ruby had another go but it was more a case of me going back to him as I was idling in front. He's a tough horse, he won his maiden hurdle over three miles so I knew the trip wouldn't be a problem."
Trainer Charles Byrnes added, "It's my first winner here having saddled the second in this race twice before, both last year and in 2006. He's by Presenting so I thought he would appreciate the better ground and his form at home had worked out well. He will jump fences next season and I suspect he could just come back for the RSA Chase."
