PPORA Race Previews: 28/12/25

Couer D'Alene and James King win at Chaddesley Corbett (Marilyn Sweet)

The next two of the 62 races that the PPORA are supporting this season take place at Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday 28^th December. The first of these is a PPORA Intermediate Race, for which 11 have been entered. There are disappointingly few Intermediates nationally (just 11 this season outside Devon & Cornwall), as they provide an ideal opportunity for progressive young pointers and are usually competitive. This contest is no exception, with eight of the entries rated over 100. Josh Newman’s Noble Blue stands out on form after wins at Dunsmore and Wadebridge this season, but he does have to carry a 5lb penalty, as does the next best, Bradley Gibbs’ Premier Fantasy, who would be making his seasonal debut. Cheytac, trained and ridden by Gina Andrews, Chris Barber’s Couer D’Alene (yes, the spelling is correct – a winner at the last meeting here – and Laura Richardson’s Ideal Du Tabert are identically-rated, but all are stepping up in class from Restricteds. The ex-Irish Monfin Girl, now trained by Joe O’Shea, was a good second at Hexham recently (the winner has taken an Open since) but has only won a Maiden and may be better off down a grade.

Ping Pong Paddy and Flora Lindsay return in triumph in May (Graham Fisher)

The PPORA Level 3 Conditions Race for Novice Riders at the same meeting replicates the race that took place at the last Chaddesley Corbett fixture and has attracted 23 entries although – surprisingly – only runner-up Dragon Rock, trained by John Evans and ridden by Harvey Barfoot-Saunt, also ran in that event. He sets the standard on this season’s form, along with Camino Rocio, a good third in a Wadebridge Open last time. However, he would be carrying a 10lb penalty after five wins under rules last season. Harvey Barfoot-Saunt is also jocked-up on him, and can’t ride both horses! Several showed good form between the flags last year, including dual winner Coeur Serein – another with a 10lb penalty to shoulder – owned, trained and ridden by Louis Hadfield, point-to-point correspondent Claire Hart’s Mollington scorer Samtara and Ping Pong Paddy, who won a similar contest here in May, a first success for Flora Lindsay. He is trained by Francesca Poste, who won this race at the last meeting. Pointing debutant Bass Rock was rated 120 under rules, is now trained by Harry Brown, and is an interesting contender for jockey Lucas Murphy. The 16-year-old, a prolific winner on the pony racing circuit and son of former top professional rider Timmy, had his first ride over fences at Larkhill recently.