PPORA Race Preview: 21/02/26

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, including three horses who have won at both showcase Hunter Chase evenings – at Cheltenham and Stratford. David Kemp’s Rebel Dawn Rising took the 2m4f Cheltenham Hunter Chase in both 2024 and 2025 and the Stratford Handicap Hunter Chase last year, the latter a fine weight-carrying performance. However, he is making his seasonal reappearance. What A Glance took the United Hunts Cup at Cheltenham and Stratford’s showpiece Horse & Hound Cup for Tom Britten in 2024 and may have been unlucky when falling last time out, while Fumet D’Oudairies’ wins came back in 2021 (Cheltenham) and 2022 (Stratford). Gina Andrews’ charge has been affected by injury since but made a pleasing reappearance last month, winning after a long absence.

What A Glance (spotted cap) wins the 2024 Horse & Hound Cup (Neale Blackburn)

David Kemp has also entered the lightly-raced but progressive All The Ammunition, who ran well recently on his reappearance after a season off, while Bridget Skelton’s Midnight River sets the standard among the ex-National Hunt horses after a win and a second at Chaddesley Corbett this season. Louis Hadfield’s Coeur Serein bounced back to form at Revesby Park last month while Kilfilum Woods – trained by Francesca Poste – went through the grades last year and has run up against two improving types this season. Ben Case’s Shanty Alley – the mount of son George – took the PPORA Novice Championship Final in May, but may be outclassed here.