PPORA Race Previews: 05/05/25

By Jake Exelby and Russell Smith

The PPORA support three races over the May Bank Holiday weekend, all on Monday 5th May,

one at Eyton-on-Severn in Shropshire and two at the Oxfordshire venue of Mollington. The

former course hosts a PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race for Novice Riders, which has attracted

15 entries. Nine are rated over 100 and six won last time out, emphasising the strength in

depth of the entry. Top-rated is Neil Gittins’ Blagthebookies, who followed up a Bangor-on-

Dee success by winning here on Easter Monday, both with Iola Sankey in the plate.

Quickcharge also won here that day, giving owner-trainer-rider Gill Anderson a memorable

first success, while veteran 14-year-old Kauto Riko, trained and ridden by Eve Hobbs, and

Phil Rowley’s Steady The Ship also scored – in Members company – over the weekend.

Kilfilum Woods (Francesca Poste) and Francesco Du Clos (Nickie Sheppard) both won at

Woodford last weekend, a third and second success of the season respectively. Bradley

Gibbs’ Premier Fantasy won at Horseheath on his seasonal debut and has been running well

in better company since, while Jo Priest has entered two – Howick winner Striking Out and

Barely Famous, who finished second to Francesco Du Clos last time. The amusingly named

Badbad Leroy Brown, trained by Sarah Hollinshead, has a high rating based on his pointing

form between 2021 and 2023, but he is 13 now and has not shown much under rules

recently.

The first of the two races at Mollington is a PPORA Level 1 Conditions Race for Veteran and

Novice Riders. Gina Andrews, who is level with Josh Newman on 34 winners at the top of

the Champion Trainer standings, has entered the top-rated No Risk Des Flos along with

Young Rich. Formerly smart under rules with Olly Murphy, Rupert Stearn's mount, who

came home alone on his debut between the flags at Fakenham, heads the 16 entries in a

race where Imperial Esprit could bid to repeat last year's triumph. The 11-year-old was a

poignant winner 12 months ago with trainer Robert Varnham and rider Seb Mead's

thoughts with the gelding's former rider Keagan Kirkby, who died in February 2024 in a race

at Charing. Imperial Esprit was a respectable third in a Stratford hunters' chase last time out

and should confirm the form with last year's second Premier D'Troice, trained by Louise

Dace, who also has it to do to turn the tables with recent Edgcote conqueror For Rita, the

mount of owner-trainer-rider Abby Henry. Kayf Hernando, fourth in a Southwell hunters'

chase last time for Justin Brotherton, is another to consider, as are the aforementioned

Barely Famous and Kauto Riko, while William Ewart, who finished fourth in the Lady Dudley

Cup at Chaddesley Corbett, has been given an entry by Joe Stevenson.

A PPORA Maiden Conditions Race (for horses who have run in at least two point-to-points)

closes the Mollington card. Eight have been entered and Gina Andrews again looks to hold

the key – this time as a rider – with the choice of the Nigel Padfield-trained pair Patricks Hill

and Validation. The 10-time champion was pipped a head on Patricks Hill at Ampton last

time out, while Validation has finished second in his last three starts, most recently at

Edgcote. Justin Brotherton’s Dave's Sister and Heather Kemp’s Just For Joy, who were

second and third at Kimble, appear the main dangers, while Lewins Gully – trained by Louise

Bevin – would have a chance on his Brocklesby Park second but has run less well since. The

other three runners look to have it to do on form.

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