Possol ~ 2010 Grand National Runner
The photo above shows Possol with his jockey in black and white.
Henry Daly’s French-bred, Possol is looking like a promising contender for the Grand National. The Shropshire based trainer is not usually the most outwardly optimistic for his horses but it is obvious that he holds the seven year old in high regard.
Last season saw Possol beat Grand National winner Mon Mome at Haydock as well as coming second to Nacarat in the Racing Post Trophy at Kempton. Whilst he gave a disappointing performance at Cheltenham it is accredited to the fact that he didn’t have enough time to recover following the Kempton outing.
He went on to prove himself yet again by beating Ollie Magern in the Kilmany Cup at Perth. This year has seen him entered and victorious in the Barrett Steel Novices’ Hurdle at Ascot and the crownhotel-bawtry.com Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster, more than likely in a successful bid to maintain his handicap mark for the Grand National at Aintree.
Possol was to be entered to the Racing Post Chase at Kempton on the 27th of February, and had odds as low as 7-1, which made him a high-profile withdrawal during the final declaration stage. Daly stated that the ground was going to be too soft for him as the ground was already soft and another 10mm of rainfall through to the Friday had been forecast – conditions that would not at all suit Possol, who needs good ground.
Missing out on the Racing Post Chase could have completely changed the agenda for Possol – an alternative plan might see Possol missing out on the Grand National altogether and being entered instead into the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, for which he already has odds of 20-1. If this was the case then he wouldn’t be able to run in the National as Daly considers it to be unfair to expect him to run over hurdles three times and then go to Aintree.
One thing is for certain, Possol is a good stayer and likes the good ground that is often well established at Aintree. Possol has never fallen, and is a consistent runner – all good signs in a racehorse especially when he has also been consistently doing better and better in his handicapping.
