David Kemp (left) celebrates after the first of Rebel Dawn Rising's Cheltenham victories (Neale Blackburn) Brocklesby Park hosts the latest in the series of PPORA-supported races this season, with the Lincolnshire track – which has been holding point-to-points for nearly 70 years – hosting a PPORA Level 1 Conditions Race . This type of contest is effectively an Open with a different penalty structure, so it is no surprise that the race has attracted a high-class entry of 16,

James winning on Theoldbogroad at Friars Haugh in 2025 (Grace Beresford)   Last week, we spoke to Patrick Smith, who took a 12-year break from the saddle and waited nearly 13 years between winners. But James Innes, who plies his trade on the Northern circuit, can trump that! James was absent from race-riding between the 2007/2008 and 2021/2022 seasons, rode his fourth winner in March 2007, but his fifth not until April 2024, over 17 years later. Jake Exelby talked to him aft

Few jockeys have taken a 12-year sabbatical from the saddle before returning. And it’s unlikely that any have made as immediate an impact on their comeback than Patrick Smith. The 31-year-old, from Bethersden – near Ashford – in Kent, had made a promising start to his pointing career as a teenager, with seven winners in the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons, before disappearing from the scene*.   He has had his first mounts since, on Grange Island, this season, and got off the

Action from Friars Haugh (Grace Beresford) Maidens take centre stage at Borders venue Friars Haugh on Sunday. The scenic track, within walking distance of Kelso town centre, hosts two PPORA-supported races for horses that have never won over jumps. The first is a PPORA NWFAA Maiden over three miles, where the horses are set to carry the same weight (mares allowance excepted), regardless of age. 11 have been entered and several have been knocking on the door recently, includin

Boris celebrates with connections after winning on Toss Again Boris Ball – who hails from near Rye, in East Sussex – rode his first winner, on only his fifth ride, when Toss Again took the PPORA Novice Riders race at Horseheath on Saturday. 20-year-old Boris, who now works for James and Jenny Owen’s Newmarket yard, told Jake Exelby about his journey from ponies to racehorses – after a three year hiatus – as well as his love of skiing and the reason for his unique (among curr

Shires Equestrian are again providing rugs to the winners of PPORA races this season The PPORA are delighted to announce their partnership with Shires Equestrian, who are kindly donating a rug to the winner of each of the 64 races supported by the PPORA this season.   The rugs, from the ‘Tempest’ range, are not only a generous memento for the winning owner, but will keep horses warm and dry in any conditions.   From everyday essentials to performance gear, Shires Equestrian b

Secret Cargo (left - blue and yellow) and Katie Featherstone won at Kingston Blount in 2024 (Neale Blackburn) The PPORA Level 3 Conditions Race  at Charing in Kent is a welcome recent addition to the schedule of PPORA-supported races this season, and organisers have been rewarded with 19 potential runners, the highest entry of the day. As is often the case with this type of race, there is likely to be an intriguing balance between experienced contenders and progressive types.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE WITH ENFIELD CHACE at HORSEHEATH SATURDAY JANUARY 24 th PPORA Club Members Conditions Race (Level 2) for Novice Riders (10 Entries) By Ray Newby Clashhill winning at Horseheath in February 2025 (Graham Bishop) An entry of 10 for this opening PPORA novice riders’ contest. Nick Wright from Badlingham, near Newmarket, would appear to have the nap hand with both his entries being top rated. However, both his runners would have to give weight to some of their rivals

Michael Treneer, a 25-year-old chartered mineral surveyor from Devon, rode his fourth winner at Wadebridge on Sunday, on his family’s homebred mare Bright Aura. A true amateur, who shares the rides on the four pointers trained by mother Deborah with his older brother Barnaby, Michael spoke to Jake Exelby afterwards about his involvement in the sport, his ambitions – both realistic and aspirational – and his competitive rivalry with his elder sibling! Michael wins at Wadebrid

Action from picturesque Revesby Park (Nico Morgan) Two PPORA-supported races take place this coming weekend. The first, on Saturday 17 th January at Revesby Park, is PPORA Level 3 Conditions Race  for Novice Riders, which has attracted eight entries. Standout among them is Highstakesplayer , trained by Eamonn O’Donnabhain, who works for Tom Lacey. He was useful under rules, was second in a Cheltenham Hunter Chase in May and third in a competitive race on his seasonal debut.

Rupert Stearn has been one of the leading jockeys in the East Anglian area for over 20 years and, despite focusing exclusively in recent years on riding horses owned by his family and longstanding friends the Turners, he has managed to notch up 127 victories between the flags and six in Hunter Chases, including two in 2025 at Fakenham. Father Simon is Clerk of the Course at Ampton, where sister Hetty is Fixture Secretary for the Suffolk meeting and – in advance of the season

DUNSTON HARRIERS at AMPTON SATURDAY JANUARY 10 th PPORA Club Members Conditions race (Level 2) for Novice Riders (10 Entries) By Ray Newby Connections celebrate after Hubrisko wins at Horseheath last month (Neale Blackburn) An entry of 10 which looks quite an open affair, as on official ratings only 20 points separate the runners. However, it’s difficult to look away from Hubrisko from Fran Poste’s Warwickshire yard who was part of a stable treble at Horseheath on New Year’s