POWELL'S HEREFORD FAREWELL Grand National-winning rider Brendan Powell is to retire tomorrow, it has been reported. The 39-year-old ended weeks of speculation by revealing that he is to hang up his boots after partnering Radar for Charlie Mann in a novice hurdle at Hereford. Powell, who won the Aintree showpiece on Rhyme 'N' Reason in 1988, is to take up training near Winchester and he indicated some time ago that his career in the saddle was about to end. The timing of tomorrow's meeting, plus the fact that he will also have mounts for loyal supporters Bob Buckler and Peter Beaumont and has high hopes of going out on a winner, led the Irishman to name tomorrow as his last day. 'I could have ridden on Thursday, when there are a couple of nice horses entered, but I've decided to give up on Wednesday,' Powell told the Racing Post. 'That leaves me 10 days before the start of the second of the three courses I have to complete at the British Racing School to get a trainer's licence and there is plenty of work in the yard I have to do in the meantime. 'Also, both Bob and Peter have runners at Hereford and then Charlie came along with this other one, which he thinks will win, and that also helped me make up my mind.' Powell has ridden nearly 600 winners over jumps in Britain since he launched his career in 1980.
