This may not be POSSOL's primary objective this season but he hasn't done too badly over hurdles this term and is taken to land this prize from Be There In Five and The Betchworth Kid. Testing terrain would be a major concern for Henry Daly's Grand National candidate but hopefully the conditions will be fast enough to enable Possol to get away with it. He may just be running over hurdles in order to protect his chase mark but he readily accounted for one of today's rivals over course and distance in December and is smart enough to go close. Alvarado falls into the could be anything category at present but there's a possibility that this may come too early in the career for a horse that has been described as a bit of a nutcase and a bigger threat is likely to be posed by Be There In Five. The winning Irish pointer impressed on his debut over hurdles at Chepstow and that form has been given a boost when the runner-up landed a handicap from a mark of 119. The Betchworth Kid is held in high regard and should be suited by this big step up in trip which could bring about any amount of improvement. There's no doubt that he has the potential to go close but there's a chance that he could be priced up on his name rather than on what he's achieved which leaves him with a bit to find. There are some decent sorts amongst the remainder but they may be more at home in handicap company and we'd expect the quartet named to provide the winner and, of those four, we prefer Possol despite the reservations about the ground.
Bob 'n' You (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway and mistake 3 out, every chance when fell last, in a race won by King Ar Aghaidh (11-9) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Possol (FR) 8-11fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, disputing lead 2 out, led last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec beating Truckers Hall (10-12) by 7l, 10 ran.
The Betchworth Kid 15-8 (11-8) In touch, headway 3 out, led narrowly before next, headed last, ridden and rallied flat, just held, 2nd of 14, nk behind Tito Bustillo (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Alvarado (IRE) 5-6fav (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd on bit approaching 2 out, led last, ran on well, won at Carlisle 2m 4f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) hvy in Nov beating Scottish Munros (10-9) by 7l, 5 ran.
Be There In Five (IRE) 7-2fav (11-0) Tracked leader from 3rd, led going well 2 out, shaken up and drew clear approaching last, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Volador (11-0) by 9l, 13 ran.
No Rules 3-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, soon headed, lead again 4 out, stayed on strongly, won at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft beating Firm Order (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 14 ran.
Strategic Approach (IRE) 9-2fav (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway going well approaching 2 out, led before last, strongly pressed and hard ridden flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 14, nk behind Money Order (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec.
Tribe 12-1 (11-4) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 48l behind Possol (11-4) at Doncaster 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Iris De Balme (FR) 9-2fav (9-7) Held up well in rear, headway after 3 out, stayed on strongly flat, not reached leaders, 4th of 19, 5l behind Monkerhostin (10-13) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr '08.
Truckers Hall (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Held up in touch and keen, led approaching 5th, under pressure 3 out, joined 2 out, headed last, one pace, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Possol (11-4) at Doncaster 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Diklers Oscar (IRE) 4-7fav (11-2) Made all, drew clear on bit from 2 out, easily, won at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (4) sft beating Gwyre (10-5) by 11l, 16 ran.
