Damien Oliver, who will ride Sniper's Bullet for the first time in a race, hasn't given up hope that he can win Saturday's Group One Kingston Town Classic at Ascot despite the six-year-old's horror barrier draw.The Railway Stakes (1600m) winner will jump from the outside barrier in the 16-horse field."It is not a great barrier but we will do our best from out there," Oliver said."He can race forward or back but I haven't seen the field so I can't comment which way we will go."One thing is that i

Damien Oliver, who will ride Sniper's Bullet for the first time in a race, hasn't given up hope that he can win Saturday's Group One Kingston Town Classic at Ascot despite the six-year-old's horror barrier draw.

The Railway Stakes (1600m) winner will jump from the outside barrier in the 16-horse field.

"It is not a great barrier but we will do our best from out there," Oliver said.

"He can race forward or back but I haven't seen the field so I can't comment which way we will go.

"One thing is that it is a better start than the Railway start when you are trying to get over from out wide."

Sniper's Bullet finished third from gate six in the 1800m weight-for-age feature at Ascot last year behind Niconero.

The Bite The Bullet gelding jumped from 12 when he won the Railway last Saturday week with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

Dual Group One winner Scenic Shot, to be ridden by Jason Brown, shortened marginally as favourite when he drew barrier two but will jump from one following the scratching of first emergency Sentenza.

Oliver said his main rival Scenic Shot, who he has won on, was awkwardly drawn on the inside.

"It is probably not the best for him because he likes to get out and rolling," he said.

Scenic Shot firmed from $3.60 to $3.50 with TAB Sportsbet while Sniper's Bullet drifted from $5.50 to $6 but remained second pick.

Third choice in the betting Grand Nirvana ($6.50) drew barrier 11, Lords Ransom (four) is at $7.50 and Tarzi (15) at $10.

The David Hayes-trained Largo Lad ($16), who drew wide in barrier 14, has had blinkers added to his gear and will again be ridden by Glen Boss.

Hayes is trying to win the race for a fourth time having already had success with Credit Account (1993) and Niconero (2006 and 2008).

Megatic ($17), who won the race two years ago from barrier 10, drew gate three.

The Neville Parnham-trained colt God Has Spoken ($18), who won the Aquanita Stakes (1800m) at Ascot last Saturday, drew barrier seven.

Trainer Adam Durrant, who has two runners in Lords Ransom (Alan Kennedy) and Star Encounter, finalised riders when Brad Parnham picked up the ride on Star Encounter who drew barrier 10.

Hong Kong-based William Pike was going to make the trip to ride the Jeune mare but cancelled the trip after being unable to make satisfactory travel arrangements.