PPORA Race Previews: 25/04/26 and 26/04/26
- pporacommittee
- Apr 21
- 3 min read
Four PPORA-supported races take place this weekend, two at Woodford on Saturday 25th April and two at Tabley on Sunday 26th April.
The first of the Woodford contests is a PPORA Intermediate Race, for which 12 have been entered. Two horses share top rating. What’s Up Harry, trained by Edward Rees, has already won twice this season, including at Shelfield Park last time, but has to carry a 5lb penalty for doing so. The other is Gillian Anderson’s Quickcharge, but the 2025 Eyton-on-Severn winner has yet to run this season. Josh Newman’s Talimar Pearl has also scored twice this campaign, and is also penalised – he is seeking a hat-trick and the form of his Cherrybrook win has been franked since. The third dual 2026 winner among the entries is Francesca Poste’s Farfromaway – he is stepping up in grade, having taken an Edgcote Restricted last time, however escapes a penalty. Off The Press also won in Restricted company on his last start for Stuart Sampson and – again – is unpenalised. Alan Hill has two entries, but neither is likely to run, and the other five look up against it on ratings and would be better off in a lower grade.
The second PPORA race at Woodford is a PPORA Conditions Race (Level 3), for horses aged eight and over, which has attracted ten entries. Form horse, and top-rated, is Kauto No Risk, trained by Jo Priest. He made an eye-catching reappearance in an Open after a year off, then won his Members last time. The other nine have yet to win this season, but several have decent placed form. Chinx Of Light was third at Alnwick and would be having his first start for Tim Underwood, Justin Brotherton’s Definiteadare was third at Didmarton, Marita Warner-King’s French Piece was second at Lockinge, and Francesca Poste’s In Our Dreams was third at Guilsborough. Torigni, trained by David Dando, has been in the frame on three of his four outings and was second at Shelfield Park last time, while Rhiannon Lodge’s Galileo Silver has been below his best this season but would have a chance on last year’s form.
At Tabley, eight entries have been received for the PPORA Conditions Race (Level 3), headed by Luca Morgan’s Just Lucky Sivola, who was third in a Leicester Hunter Chase earlier in the season. Morgan has also entered the intriguingly named J’Envoievalserenki, but he has yet to win outside of Maiden company. Two of the entries – Tom Britten’s Amidnightstar and Rewritetherules, trained by Fred Timmis – were second at Sandon over the Easter weekend, while Russell Teague’s O’Halloran’s Castle filled that position at Eyton-on-Severn and runs his best races at this time of year. Luke Price’s horses are in form, and his Ringsend John was third at Shelfield Park last time. Heidi Brookshaw’s Dark Soldier is still a maiden, while the Martin Wanless-trained Big Bresil has not run since December 2023.
Tabley also hosts a PPORA Conditions Race (Level 3), and ten are entered. Two represent Luke Price – last year’s champion horse Inchidaly Robin, who returned to winning ways last time, and the consistent (ten wins and four seconds from 14 starts for the trainer) Lavorante, so he will probably only run one. No Risk Des Flos and Padjoes Legacy have each won on their last two outings. While the former is trained by Gina Andrews and the latter by Nigel Padfield, Andrews is booked to ride both, so it is unlikely that both will take part. Nickie Sheppard’s Hugos New Horse – useful under rules – has shown consistent form this season without winning, Laura Richardson’s Loud And Proud has been in and out and Poncherello, owned and trained by the Garton family who run the meetings at the course, disappointed last time after winning at Dalton Park. Heidi Brookshaw’s Buzzard Trix may have pulled up on his reappearance, but he’s a spring horse who loves it here, having won his last four starts at the track. Galileo Silver is also entered here, and Poppy Wynne’s Jump On Board looks outclassed.
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