The countdown continues! Only two Saturdays to go until Cheltenham is finally here, but in the meantime cast your eyes towards South Yorkshire and Doncaster’s sportingbet.com Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at 3.25pm this afternoon.
A field of 15 are set to head to post for the Donny showpiece (live on C4), and the one to be on is market leader Possol who lines up for Henry Daly and Richard Johnson on his first chase start since April 2009.
Daly sends him north from his Shropshire base safe in the knowledge the handicapper can’t do any damage to his already published Grand National weight of 11st 3lb however well he performs, and despite a big weight to shoulder here his trainer can now unleash one of his stars with his sights firmly set on winning this on the way to Aintree glory (he’s best at 20/1 for the National, a price that might be worth a small interest before post time at Doncaster).
A class horse for connections since being bought from France in 2007 Possol saw off subsequent National winner Mon Mome over fences at Haydock in the autumn of 2008, before performing with real credit behind Nacarat in last year’s Racing Post Chase.
Things didn’t pan out for him in the William Hill Trophy at the Festival, but he signed off the 2008/09 campaign with a 22 length demolition of Ollie Magern at Perth, and his shrewd trainer has shyed away from running him over fences ever since with a view to protecting his mark of 151 for the National.
Instead they’ve been making hay with easy novice hurdles wins at Ascot and Doncaster from Possol – he positivly hacked up on both occasions to prove his wellbeing, and he even has a cheeky entry for the Albert Bartlett at the Festival.
This race isn’t just a stepping stone though, with over thirty five grand going to the winner, and I really fancy him to bag this on the way to the National.
Decent ground and a strong stamina test allied to Donny’s left handed galloping track will suit him perfectly, and although Wogan and Mill Side appear as obvious dangers, Possol can defy a big weight to take this.
At Newbury I’m looking forward to taking in the snappily titled Blue Square Supporting Greatwood Veterans’ Handicap Chase at 2.35pm.
I’m a big fan of these senior citizens races, and you only have to have a chat with my no nonsense associate Lord Culcheth to know that advancing years shouldn’t be a barrier to true love.
There’ll be a mighty cheer if Trabolgan can roll back the years and repeat his 2005 course and distance Hennessy win, and although he missed three years with injury he looked like his old self and ready to win last time out when going well at Doncaster before a mistake robbed him of his chance.
Generally he’s a very clean jumper despite that bad error, and it’s fair to say the handicapper may have given him a real chance now on a mark of 137.
A stone lower than his finest hour he is 12 nowadays, but when you consider he doesn’t have the miles on the clock of some of today’s rivals and represents the in form Henderson camp who continue to fire in the winners, he looks to hold all the aces in this contest.
To complete the set with another chaser I reckon can strike on Saturday afternoon, look no further than Sa Suffit in Kelso’s totesport.com Premier Chase at 3.35pm.
He handles very testing conditions the best of any of rivals, is well suited by the conditions of this race, is improving fast and can take this in the hands of Denis O’Regan.
Finally, breaking new ground for this column, a strong recommendation for Saturday’s Super League fixtures: back Huddersfield Giants to win at a shade of odds against away to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.
Good luck!
Saturday’s tips:
2.35 Newbury – Blue Square Supporting Greatwood Veterans’ Handicap Chase – 5 Trabolgan (win)
3.25 Doncaster – sportingbet.com Grimthorpe Handicap Chase – 2 Possol (win)
3.35 Kelso – totesport.com Premier Chase – 4 Sa Suffit (win)
Super League – Huddersfield Giants to win at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
