PPORA Race Previews: 21/04/25

Coolagh Park (Graham Bishop)

The PPORA action on Easter Monday involves three races, two of which are at the Gloucestershire venue of Paxford. The first is a PPORA Restricted Race over two miles five furlongs, for which 14 have been entered, and it looks like a competitive heat, with three joint top-rated horses and plenty more in with a shout. Note, of course, that most of the entries will have multiple options over the weekend. Gina Andrews’ Cheytac built on his early-season promise when winning at Fakenham and is penalised 5lb for that success – she also has Garthorpe winner Pillar Rock. Amber Jackson-Fennell also has two in the race – Get Bye owes his high mark to some recent placings, including in a Fakenham Hunter Chase, while Bobbarelli has looked transformed in winning twice this season, including last weekend and would also carry a 5lb penalty – as does Fred Hutsby. His pair, I Don’t Know and Joe Kidd, won and were second at Shelfield Park on Saturday, the latter behind Bobbarelli. The third horse due to carry a penalty is Luke Price’s Mr Bezi. He won twice last year and is making his seasonal debut, but his trainer can get them ready first time. Also of interest is Joe Hill’s Monrocco Moonlight – the Charing winner ran out of puff last time and will be suited by the shorter trip.

The second contest at Paxford is a Level 2 Conditions Race, for Veteran Horses aged ten and over, which has attracted 16 entries. Luca Morgan’s On Springs won impressively on his first pointing start at Kingston Blount and is clear top-rated to follow-up. Four others scored last time out – Alan Hill’s useful but lightly-raced Coolagh Park (the trainer likes to quote “he’s had more problems than this government!”) scoring at Fakenham, Nickie Sheppard’s Francesco Du Clos giving Gordon Miller a debut success at Maisemore Park, Gina Andrews’ Young Rich doing likewise for Molly Legg at High Easter and Ashley Bealby’s Due Reward winning in the hands of daughter Marina at Tabley. Who’s In The Box – trained by Joan Johnston – is capable and better than his recent form figures suggest.

Eyton-on-Severn also hosts a PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race, this time for Grass Roots Riders who have ridden 20 winners or fewer, and there are 18 potential contenders, few of whom can be ruled out on form. On Springs, Francesco Du Clos and Young Rich are all entered here too. The former looks the pick on paper, and he may be given most to do by Neil Gittins’ promising five-year-old Great Valley, who scored at Bangor-on-Dee recently with Guy Sankey. Neil’s second contender here – Blagthebookies – completed a memorable double that day for Guy’s wife Iola. Jo Priest also has two entries – Everything Now won at Kingston Blount earlier in the year before a Howick third and Citizen Jane ran well when second at Bitterley. Others to have scored in similar company this season are Dennis Pugh’s veteran Doc Carver, who followed up a Chipley Park dead-heat with a good second at Didmarton, Jade Tuckley’s First Preference, who won a Larkhill match, and Rhiannon Lodge’s Ampton winner Galileo Silver. Premier Fantasy – trained by Bradley Gibbs – took a Restricted on his seasonal debut but has been running well in better company and is progressive, and younger than most of his rivals.