PPORA Race Previews: 28/03/26 and 29/03/26

Five PPORA-supported races take place this weekend. On Saturday, Larkhill hosts a PPORA Conditions Race (Level 2), for which seven have been entered.

Lavorante in action (Tim Holt)

On ratings, it looks a close call, with one horse given a mark of 111 and three more on 109. However, top-rated Tara Storm, trained by Eve Hobbs, pulled up in a Hunter Chase on his return from a year’s absence, so may still need the run. Of the three next-best on the figures, Lavorante looks the pick, Luke Price’s charge having followed an impressive Charing victory with two seconds, including in an Open. James Mullins’ Sublime Heights, the mount of first season jockey Cassidy Francis, was a good third here last time, while Farnoge, trained and ridden by another rookie in Freddie Fletcher, followed an excellent second here with a disappointing run. Tim Underwood’s veteran Ask Nile blew up on his reappearance and will probably need another run before returning to his best form, while Elen Wylie’s Shang Tang has shown consistent form in Opens but is making his seasonal debut. Nikki Henton’s Hyberylooks outclassed on recent form.

Runners face the starter at Tranwell (Grace Beresford)

The second PPORA race on Saturday is a PPORA Maiden at Tranwell, which has attracted 13 entries. Three horses are joint-top rated. Alice Dawson’s Black Aquila has twice been third recently in PPORA Maidens in the Northern Area and will be bidding to make it third time lucky, Elizabeth Nixon’s Claramount has been running consistently in this grade this season and has the assistance of the experienced Joanna Walton in the saddle, and Agilulf, trained by Tina Hammond, owes his rating to a Conditions Race third last season. He should have come on for his seasonal debut last weekend. Jack Teal has entered three. G N Jefferson travelled to Didmarton earlier this month and finished an encouraging fourth in what looked like a good race. His other two entries – Itsyourcall and My Caraline – are newcomers, and Teal’s debutants are always worth considering. Kate Leckenby is another who can get her horses ready first time – she took the Flat Race at this fixture last year – and she relies on Idole Des Carnettes, for whom Paddy Barlow is an interesting jockey booking. Tom Easterby is another leading trainer with an entry here – his Rye’s Words pulled up on debut but should improve.

Ninth Wave takes off (Tim Holt)

The first of three PPORA-supported races on Sunday is at Cotley. Six entries have been received for the PPORA Conditions Race (Level 2), for horses aged eight and over, headed by The Big Breakaway, formerly very useful under rules when trained by Colin then Joe Tizzard, and successful on his pointing debut for Les Jefford, albeit finishing alone in a match. Teresa Clark’s one-eyed wonder Ninth Wave has a superb record, with 12 wins and 11 places from his 28 starts but has looked below his best this season and age may be catching up with him. Lavorante and Shang Tang are entered here as well as in the PPORA race at Larkhill, Oliver Hayes’ Best Mate Dave ran well in a Leicester Hunter Chase but less so in a point-to-point last time, while veteran Diplomate Sivola, trained by Juliet Thornhill for her daughter Saffron to ride, has something to find on form.

Connections after Drayton Flyer's first win

The remaining two PPORA races this weekend are both at Maisemore Park. The PPORA Restricted Race has nine entries, five of whom have won this season, three last time out. Top-rated is Alan Hill’s Drayton Flyer, a winner of both his pointing starts, and particularly impressive at Bangor-on-Dee last time. However, he has to shoulder a 5lb penalty. The same applies to Chris Barber’s Carrillo, who holds the Will Biddick-trained Badbury Rings scorer Dollanstown on Charlton Horethorne form earlier this month. Bradley Gibbs’ Briskalo caught the eye when taking a Chaddesley Corbett Maiden over Christmas. He was only fourth last time, but the form looks solid and his stable is in good form. Seven Kites would be a rare runner outside Maiden company for Tom Lacey – he won cosily on his Larkhill debut and, as a four-year-old, is receiving all the allowances. Samba Mambo is the other 2025/2026 winner in the field. Nickie Sheppard’s charge won a Badbury Rings Maiden when trained by Chris Barber, but that was a weak contest, and she has been disappointing since. Of those yet to get on the scoresheet this season, Jenny Carr’s The Gooner’s form has been in an out, but he has a chance on his Larkhill second.

Molly Armytage and Illico De Cotte (Tim Holt)

A PPORA Conditions Race (Level 2), for Novice Riders who have ridden ten winners or fewer follows the Restricted and has 12 entries. Jockeyship is often the key in this kind of contest and Molly Armytage (daughter of Grand National winning jockey Marcus) has been catching the eye this season with three wins, including a first success on top-rated Illico De Cotte, trained by Will Biddick, at Badbury Rings. The pair lost nothing in defeat last time. Eliza Culloty is another with a top pedigree (father Jim, who trains Spyglass Hill, won three Gold Cups on Best Mate and a Grand National). She is less experienced with just two rides to date, but the combination will come on for their recent run at Hutton Rudby. Louis Hadfield, who owns, trains and rides Coeur Serein, has three wins, including at Revesby Park this season, while Gordon Millar was successful twice last season and Hugos New Horse, trained for him by Nickie Sheppard, has been running well but pulled up on his last run. James Pyman has yet to get off the mark – his Fighter Allen, trained by Ed Walker, was a close second last time. Finally, Dewi-John Haddock, another owner-trainer-rider, is a fellow first season jockey yet to break his duck. He will rely on either On Springs or Up For Appeal, both of whom ran their best races of the season on their most recent start.