PPORA Race Previews: 28/02/26 and 01/03/26

The PPORA support two races at Oxfordshire track Kingston Blount this coming Saturday, writes Russell Smith, the first of which is a PPORA Conditions Race (Level 2) and Gina Andrews is optimistic Chaddesley Corbett runner-up Cheytac will show the benefit of an operation to improve his breathing. The trainer-rider said: "He has had wind surgery since his last run and I am hoping it will bring out a bit more improvement. He is a decent horse and he has done well with his wind." Alan Hill will speak to owner Richard Cranfield before deciding whether to let Coolagh Park take his chance or wait for Ampton on Sunday. The trainer said: "I was disappointed by his first run this season. I ran three horses at Horseheath and none of them ran to what I expected. Since then one has won and one has run a good deal better, so I am hoping for the same with this horse." Tim Underwood, whose Print Concern company sponsor the race, is looking to Stranger Danger to bounce back from being pulled up at Charing. "He couldn't handle that tacky ground and was never going," the Beedon handler explained. "He could run quite well." Nickie Sheppard’s Yippee Ki Yay and Harry Whittington’s Skandiburg are here as well as in the Open, while Larkhill runner-up Highstakesplayer – trained by Eamonn O’Donnabhain – and Katie Featherstone’s Commander Of Ten, who coughed after finishing fifth at Horseheath, have strong claims.

Coolagh Park in full flight (Graham Bishop)

Alan Hill is sweet on the chances of The Dancing Tree in the PPORA Restricted Race, over the shorter distance of 2m 5f. The seven-year-old beat Validation and Gina Andrews, who are set to reoppose, by three-and-a-half lengths at Charing. Hill said: "I think the trip will be to his advantage. Of all the horses I run, he would be one I would nail my name to as my best chance." With The Dancing Tree picking up a 5lb penalty, Andrews will be looking to turn the tables aboard Nigel Padfield's eight-year-old, saying: "He ran really well at Charing and will definitely be suited by the 2m 5f trip." Tim Underwood isn't sure what to expect from Kedg West, who signed off last season by winning a maiden here. "He is a mystery to me. He will either run a blinder or run terrible," he said. Emma Summersby's hat-trick seeker, Cloonagoose, plus maiden winners Karaktere D'Enfer – trained by Jo Priest – and Hannah Marshall’s Luther are other leading contenders.

Celebrations after The Dancing Tree wins at Charing

The action moves to Larkhill at Wiltshire, holding its fifth meeting of the season, on Sunday, and the majority of the 14 contenders for the PPORA Conditions Race (Level 2) have recent form at the track. Sibling rivalry could be the order of the day, as the highest rated pair are Yippee Ki Yay, trained by Nickie Sheppard and due to be ridden by Milo Herbert, and Highstakesplayer, the mount of Milo’s younger brother Ivor and in the care of Eamonn O’Donnabhain. Yippee Ki Yay won comfortably here in December, and was a good second last time, while Highstakesplayer has run well on all three outings here this season – including an unlucky unseat at the last – and is knocking on the door. Emma Summersby’s Hidden Heroics has provided 16-year-old Harry Neale with his first two wins – both at Wadebridge – and he is yet another with good form here, having finished fourth in what looked a hot race at the last meeting. Another to fit that category is Mike Felton’s Boys Will Be Boys, third here in January and horse who generally goes best in the spring. Tara Storm, trained and ridden by Eve Hobbs, has a most consistent record in points, with four wins and four seconds, however he missed last season so may need the run. Veteran D’Jango, trained by Victoria Collins, may be worth considering despite some uninspiring recent form figures. He is quirky, but classy on his day, and was fourth in the 2024 Cheltenham Foxhunters.

Milo Herbert and Yippee Ki Yay win at Larkhill in December (Tim Holt)