PPORA Race Previews: 24/01/26 and 25/01/26

CAMBRIDGESHIRE WITH ENFIELD CHACE at HORSEHEATH

SATURDAY JANUARY 24^th

PPORA Club Members Conditions Race (Level 2) for Novice Riders (10 Entries)

By Ray Newby

Clashhill winning at Horseheath in February 2025 (Graham Bishop)

An entry of 10 for this opening PPORA novice riders’ contest. Nick Wright from Badlingham, near Newmarket, would appear to have the nap hand with both his entries being top rated. However, both his runners would have to give weight to some of their rivals and they also hold entries in other races on the card. Clashhill would appear have the best chance, giving just 5lbs or more to his rivals. He was 5^th in a Cheltenham hunter chase last May, beaten 24L behind Crawter, on his final outing last season. Prior to this, he ran up a 4-timer including two wins at this course. Red Maple would be giving 10lbs or more to some of his rivals if turning out in this race. He PU on his final start last season in a 4 mile hunter ‘chase at Cheltenham. Previously he had won a 3¾ mile contest at High Easter in April when beating Ragnar Lodbrok by 9L. The very capable Cian Murphy is jocked up and he was in the saddle for the High Easter win. Spirit Of Legend could make the long journey from Tim Vaughan’s stable in South Wales. He PU on his pointing debut at Lower Machen in November and he only has one victory under rules. That came at Navan, under Rachel Blackmore, when he was trained by Henry De Bromhead in a 2½ mile maiden hurdle in November 2022 when he beat Kilbree Warrior by 1¼ L. Master Malcolm was 2^nd here on New Year’s Eve when going down by 2 ½ L to Hubrisko and he could again run into a place. Another Mystery, representing local trainer Sarah Humphrey, was 3^rd here on New Year’s Eve when going down by 16¾ L to Glancing Hill in a conditions race. In Our Dreams representing Fran Poste’s Warwickshire stable was well beaten on his seasonal debut at Chaddesley Corbett in late December but he’s entitled to come on for that run. Grange Island was 3^rd at Charing in a Men’s Open when 16L behind the winner, Empire De Maulde, in December. Jenny Owen’s Newmarket yard is represented by recent Irish import Toss Again. He’s a 4-time winner under rules but has pulled up on 4 of his most recent 5 outings and is probably best watched. Young Rich has been placed in the first two on his last four runs. Trained by Gina Andrews, he won’t lack for fitness on his seasonal debut and goes well for his rider Molly Legg, who has been successful on him, on two occasions.

Lucas Murphy winning on Bass Rock at Chaddesley Corbett (Marilyn Sweet)

The action moves to Cocklebarrow on Sunday, writes Jake Exelby, where the Gloucestershire venue hosts a PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race for Novice Riders, for which 14 are entered. Best of the bunch on this season’s pointing form is Bass Rock, trained by Harry Brown and due to be ridden by the promising 16-year-old Lucas Murphy, who partnered him to victory in a similar contest at Chaddesley Corbett last month, where he had the David Dennis-trained Fat Sam 15 lengths back in third. John Evans’ Dragon Rock had been a good second at the same track earlier in December and comes into the reckoning. Top-rated overall is Mary Cookson’s Guy, useful for Nigel Twiston-Davies under rules and fourth in a recent Taunton Hunter Chase, while Imperial Esprit is a regular in this type of race for trainer Robert Varnham, will come on for his Larkhill reappearance and – in Katie Featherstone – has one of the most experienced riders. Also worth a mention is Samtara, a Mollington winner last season and owned and trained by fellow point-to-point correspondent Claire Hart and her partner Gareth Price. He gave Price an enjoyable riding debut behind Bass Rock last time.