The PPORA are supporting four races this coming weekend, and all have different conditions.
FRIARS HAUGH - SATURDAY 8 MARCH
PPORA Open Maiden
By Jake Exelby
The first is at Friars Haugh on Saturday 8th March. It is a PPORA Open Maiden over the shorter distance of two-and-a-half miles and has 11 possible runners. Unusually for a race of this nature, there is a winner in the field, Rhiannon Lodge’s Fayrely Fruitful – a daughter of prolific winning pointer Fruit Fayre – having taken an Alnwick bumper. Best form over fences this season has been shown by Phantoms Cave for Michael Cregan and Deerstalker for Kate Mactaggart – both have been runner-up in this grade here at previous meetings, although the former would have finished well in front of the latter (who unseated) at the first fixture and was in the process of running a very good race when falling last time. Jack Teal’s maidens are always worth a second look – he has two entries, although Diamond Flush would need to improve on his Irish form, and You Did unseated at halfway on his debut. Portgloriam’s Irish form is also moderate, but Lesley Coltherd’s runners should always be respected, while arguably the most interesting of all is newcomer Annie McGrath. As a five-year-old mare, she receives all the allowances and is another trained by a professional handler in Laura Morgan – most of the pointing runners from her yard run in sister Kelly’s name.
HIGH EASTER RACING CLUB AT HIGH EASTER - SATURDAY 8 MARCH
PPORA Conditions (Level 3) for Novice Rider’s
By Ray Newby
This opening novice rider’s race has attracted an entry of 9 and features jockeys with a wide scale of experience. Kilfillum Woods is a two-time winner already this season and those wins at Knightwick and Larkhill were under the vastly experienced Zac Baker. On his most recent outing at Larkhill last month, he was 4th beaten 26 lengths by Crawter when sent off the odds-on favourite. He’s due to be ridden here by Tom Hutsby who’s one of the most experienced riders in the race with 11 wins from 72 rides. Monkey Puzzle is very consistent in these races. He won a Ladies Open at Charing last month when beating Back Bar by 3 lengths in a match race. Jockey Mary Ashby is another experienced rider in this grade with 5 wins from 46 rides. Young Rich hails from the Gina Andrews training yard and has been ridden this season by Molly Legg who is yet to record a win from 21 rides. Young Rich was 3rd at Horseheath in January, 14 L behind Aramax. He pulled up on his next start at Kingston Blount last month on unsuitable going. Jacks Touch was 3rd at Horseheath last month in a Ladies Open going down by just over 15 lengths to last week’s Ampton winner Tullys Touch but has been well beaten in all other outings this season. Chapelier got no further than halfway at Ampton last Sunday before unseating his rider and Seb Mead has the ride and is another with experience boasting 6 wins from 77 starts. Alkopop was three-time winner under rules when trained by Toby Lawes but his last win came in February 2022 and he been well beaten since then including in points. Intricate Pillar won a 7 furlong race at Kempton in December 2022 and there must be stamina concerns.
GUILSBOROUGH - SUNDAY 9 MARCH
PPORA Condition Race (Level 2)
By Jake Exelby
The PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race at Guilsborough on Sunday 9th March has attracted 14 entries, of whom no fewer than ten have a rating of over 100, making this a potentially high-quality contest. Three of the field won last time out, including Tom Britten’s top-rated Ocean Drifter, who scored impressively at Brocklesby Park. Clashhill has won both his starts this season for trainer Nick Wright, although he would be stepping up in grade here, while Fred Hutsby’s Salty Boy won on his Garthorpe reappearance, albeit in what looked like a moderate contest. Gina Andrews’ Benefaktor races with admirable consistency (five wins and 11 places from 14 starts), and Red Maple – also trained by Nick Wright – is another yet to finish out of the frame, winning two of his ten starts. Kelly Morgan, trainer of Dusart, has her string in fine form, and her ten-year-old was possibly unlucky on his pointing debut, although he would need to improve on his last two outings to win here.
BANGOR ON DEE - SUNDAY 9 MARCH
PPORA Restricted Race
By Jake Exelby
Bangor-on-Dee hosts a PPORA Restricted, also on Sunday 9th March, and – just like in the race at Guilsborough – three come here on the back of a win. Ideal Du Tabert broke his duck at Sheriff Hutton for Laura Richardson and is highest-rated on that display, while Great Valley is more experienced, but carries a 5lb penalty and the race he won for Neil Gittins last time was weak – his Knightwick seasonal debut may provide a better guide to his ability. Walk Easy, now trained by Rhiannon Lodge, was second five times in a row in Ireland, was successful at Duncombe Park, and should improve. Tom Greenwood’s Torngat is the most experienced of these and has placed form in Hunter Chases but is another burdened by a penalty and has been lightly raced since scoring on this card two years ago. Jack Teal is one of the leading trainers in the country and should be able to find another race for Dingley winner Callmesusie, Cossack Dancer – trained and ridden by Chloe Mills – and Poppy Wynne’s Trip Switch have both found the step up in grade more challenging since winning their respective maidens in the 2022/2023 season, while Heidi Brookshaw’s Tango Arumba may be the lowest-rated but is closely matched at the weights with Great Valley on their Higham form.
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