PPORA Novice Riders Championship Final: 17/05/26

The PPORA Novice Riders Championship Final (Level 2 Conditions Race), at Edgcote on Sunday 17th May, is the showcase event of the races supported by the PPORA across the course of the 2025-2026 point-to-point season. It is open to any horse qualified to run in point-to-points who is owned by a member of the PPORA, and to any novice (ten wins or fewer at the start of the season) jockey who has finished in the first four in any PPORA-supported race this season. With £1,000 to the winner and a total of £1,700 in prize money, it is one of the most valuable races in the point-to-point calendar. The racecard, with commentary on each of the nine horses entered and a summary, is below.

Josh Newman's Holiday Fund in full flight (Tim Holt)

SUMMARY

Up For Appeal is joint top-rated, but heavily penalised. Josh Newman is unlikely to run both his entries, no jockey is booked for either, and rider ability is important in this type of race. Champagne Glory is in-form, escapes a penalty and benefits from the experience of Fred Philipson-Stow, while Young Rich is possibly not as good as his rating suggests. Pirates' Tale ran well last time and could be the best of the lower-rated horses, but the selection goes to whichever of HOLIDAY FUND or TALIMAR PEARL runs, especially if leading novice Lucas Murphy rides.