PPORA Race Previews: 06/04/26

Two of the three PPORA-supported races on Easter Monday, 6^th April take place at Paxford.

French Symphony with connections after winning at Dunsmore (Tim Holt)

The first is a PPORA Restricted over the shorter distance of two miles four furlongs, for which nine have been entered, 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, although faces an in-form rival in Justin Brotherton’s Dunsmore winner French Symphony, placed on all three starts since. Maxfly D’Agrostis broke his duck at Garthorpe for Laura Horsfall recently, but Guess What – a potential long-distance traveller for North Yorkshire-based Jack Teal – disappointed last time following his Friars Haugh Maiden win. Jessica Botham’s Bennettsbridge and Will Thirlby’s Colibri Bleu both scored in 2024/2025 but have shown little this season, while mare Samba Mambo has disappointed since joining Nickie Sheppard after winning her Maiden. The Jolly Pot, trained by a true pointing legend in Jimmy Tarry, has not won for four years and is making his seasonal reappearance and ex-Irish On Lovers Walk must be respected on his British debut for Kelly Morgan.

Lavorante in winning action (Tim Holt)

A PPORA Conditions Race (Level 2), for ‘veteran’ horses aged ten and over follows the Restricted and has 13 entries, of which the top-rated is Kelly Morgan’s Go Go Geronimo. However, the 11-year-old, who has mixed it in top company in the past, has been running below his best this season and may have to give best to a progressive type (if such a thing exists in a veterans race!) in Luke Price’s Lavorante, who won at Cotley at the weekend and may make a quick reappearance. Calidad, trained by Chris Clarke, returned to form at Siddington recently and has a chance on that form, while Station Yard Racing’s In Our Dreams is improving with each race following a year’s absence. Victoria Collins’ D’Jango is another to have run well in the big Hunter Chases in the past but has shown little recently, Elen Wylie’s Jay Bee Whiskey won five two years ago but has not done much back between the flags following a spell under rules, and Champagne Mystery was beaten at odds-on on his recent pointing debut for Christopher Walker.

Premier Fantasy with trainer Bradley Gibbs on board (Neale Blackburn)

The last of the eight PPORA-supported races over the Easter weekend is the PPORA Conditions Race (Level 2) for Novice Riders, in which jockeyship is often the key,  at Eyton-on-Severn, which has attracted ten entries. 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. Normally the mount of Milo Herbert, he would be ridden here by younger brother Ivor. Second best on form figures is Bradley Gibbs’ Premier Fantasy, although no rider is yet booked and it would be his first appearance in a race of this nature. Gina Andrews has entered the mare Arctic Oscar, a Guilsborough winner last time, for stable novice Molly Legg, who has already ridden four winners, while 16-year-old Bruce Vaughan is yet to get off the mark – he is down to ride Ringsend John, who won twice two seasons back but has suffered jumping issues recently, for Luke Price. High Game Royal has been running well for trainer-jockey husband and wife Rebecca and Nick Romain. The others look held on form, although Daniel Williams – who works for Nicky Henderson – is an interesting booking for Heidi Brookshaw’s Spectacular Rival, who ran better last time.