PPORA Race Preview: 04/01/26

Jockeys head for the parade ring at Larkhill (Tim Holt)

The first PPORA-supported Maiden of the season is being held at Larkhill on Sunday 4^th January. It is a Conditions Maiden – for horses that have run in at least two point-to-points in Britain or Ireland – so is therefore designed to reward more exposed types as opposed to progressive young horses and has attracted 13 entries. Joint-top rated are Josh Newman’s mare Cue Jump and Maxfly D’Agrostis, professionally trained by owner Laura Horsfall. The former is well-regarded but not lived up to expectations so far, and may have her own ideas about the game, while the latter showed improved form here last time, and may have finished close to runner-up Cue Jump but for falling at the last. Both have half a mile further to travel this time. Ed Walker’s Down The Inner was running on at the finish in another Maiden on the same Larkhill card before Christmas, Dallanstown – trained by Will Biddick, who has just announced his retirement from the saddle after a record-breaking 623 winners in point-to-points – was a good second on his British debut at Dunsmore, while Edward Rees’s Kow Boy Sivola ran well at Badbury Rings but less so at Garthorpe last time. Guseakie, trained by Francesca Poste, is another held in high regard by his stable. He pulled up at Chaddesley Corbett but will appreciate better ground on Sunday.