Ossmoses ruled out of National bid

Permit trainer Don Forster’s hopes of winning the Grand National with Ossmoses were dashed cruelly yesterday.

Ossmoses, as low as 14-1 for the race and one of only six horses trained by Forster near

Darlington, lost his bid to line up at Aintree on Saturday week after suffering a tendon

injury.

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It came after the 10-year-old,

winner of last season’s Red

Square Vodka Gold Cup at

Haydock, had confirmed his

National claims with a close

second behind Amstecos in a

novices’ hurdle at Ayr last

month.

His trainer believes Ossmoses

may have strained the tendon

in the prep race at Ayr even

though the injury has only just

surfaced.

A disconsolate Forster said:

"We are all pretty gutted as you

can imagine, but we hope to have him back for the second

half of next season so a crack at

the National is still a possibility."

Meanwhile, Alan King, looking

to keep his momentum

from the Cheltenham Festival

going at Aintree, hopes to complete

a Triumph Hurdle-

Anniversary Hurdle double

with Katchit, a feat achieved by

only two other horses, Detroit

City last year, and Pollardstown

in 1979.

worth £130,000 and now has the

added appeal of Grade One

status.

King said: "He’s in very good

form and will go to Aintree. He’s

due to work tomorrow (Wednesday)

but, as things are, I’m very

happy with him. He holds an

entry at Punchestown, but he

was only in there as a back-up."

He added: "I’m thrilled with

the way he’s progressed this

season, it’s been a wonderful

story."

Katchit, a gelding with more

heart than size, has won six of

his seven starts over hurdles,

having cruised home for his

first success at Market Rasen

in September.