PPORA Race Previews: 04/04/26

Four PPORA-supported races take place on Easter Saturday, 4^th April.

Yippee Ki Yay winning at Larkhill earlier this season (Tim Holt)

Bitterley hosts two of the four, the first of which is a PPORA Conditions Race (Level 1), for which eight have been entered. With Level 1 Conditions Races effectively being Opens with a different penalty structure, they usually attract a quality field, and this race is no exception, with seven of the eight being rated 107 or higher. Top of the ratings is Nickie Sheppard’s Yippee Ki Yay, who returned to his best when a close second to top-class Macklin in a competitive Exeter Hunter Chase last time. Station Yard Racing’s progressive Glancing Hill dead-heated at Didmarton last time and should be competitive again, while Kauto No Riskcaught the eye on his reappearance for Jo Priest after a year off, but is believed to be targeting the opening Members race on the card. Trainer Neil Gittins is in blistering form, but his Blagthebookies will need to improve on his Bangor-on-Dee win to feature here. Three of the field – Jane Allfrey’s Dr Oakley, Rhiannon Lodge’s Galileo Silver and Iontach Cheval for Diana Raplh – would have chances on last year’s form but have shown little this season, while James Earnshaw’s Premier De Troice looks outclassed.

Action from scenic Bitterly (Mark Pugh)

A PPORA Restricted follows the Conditions Race and has seven entries, headed by Luca Morgan’s Ston Easton winner Jewel Of Windsor, part-owned by former Racing Post writer (and father of champion jockey James) Andrew King. He is likely to be a warm order, with main rival on form Punch Perfect yet to race this season for Dan Cherriman. The same applies to Hannah Lewis’ mare Queenhill. Fellow mare Samba Mambo has disappointed since joining Nickie Sheppard after winning her Maiden, Will Thirlby’s Tony’s Tipple has pulled up on all his starts since joining Will Thirlby and Rhiannon Lodge’s Walk Easy only has one piece of form to his name this season, a distant Hunter Chase fourth. Ifindoubtgoflatout, a third seasonal debutant and trained by Lucy Smith, has failed to finish on six of his seven outings – however, the exception was a very impressive win at Howick two seasons ago, so he cannot be ruled out entirely.

Midnight River winning at Chaddesley Corbett (Marilyn Sweet)

The PPORA Conditions Race (Level 2) at Sandon has attracted 13 entries, comprising a mix of established older types and progressive youngsters. The former include Bridget Skelton’s Midnight River – a faller last time but twice a winner this season, including in Open company – and What A Glance for Tom Britten. His form figures this season are less impressive, but his pull-up last time was in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, he was only just beaten by the high-class Rebel Dawn Rising, and he fell when going well in a Hunter Chase. Foxhunters winner Joe O’Shea can do little wrong this and his Boley Bob is seeking a four-timer, but he ran last week and this may come too quick. Chris Barber’s Couer D’Alene has also won three this season and remains on the upgrade, as does Gina Andrews’ Call Me Early, whose Ampton win was franked at the weekend. Andrews has also entered the mare Arctic Oscar, while Harry Whittington’s Skandiburghas been in and out this season but is capable of useful form at his best.

Celebrations after Toss Again wins at Horseheath (Graham Bishop)

The fourth PPORA-supported race on Saturday is at Dingley. 12 entries have been received for the PPORA Conditions Race (Level 2) and top-rated is the aforementioned Call Me Early. Clashhill was progressive last season, has been runner-up on both starts this time round and merits consideration – his trainer Nick Wright has also entered Fame And Concrete, a close second to Boley Bob last time. Also double-handed are Stuart Morris and Kelly Morgan. The former has Champagne Glory, a non-winner in the past two seasons but placed on all his starts and Fakenham third Mylesfromwicklow, while the latter could rely on Dusart, who should come on for his Guilsborough reappearance third, and/or Alnwick second Potters Party. Jenny Owen’s Toss Again has given young rider Boris Ball his first successes this season – he has been impressive in both his wins, but may not have beaten much.