PPORA Weekend Race Preview: 29/03/25

Lavorante & James King (Tim Holt)

The PPORA are supporting no fewer than six races across five courses this weekend, the first

of which is a PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race at Larkhill on Saturday 22 March, for which

seven have been entered. Top-rated is Crawter, jointly owned by ‘Mr Larkhill’ Stan Rawlins

and his trainer Harriet Waight. The fast-improving six-year-old has already won three times

at the course this season and would be a popular local winner. Other recent course winners

among the entries are the evergreen Tim Underwood’s Ask Nile, who – like Crawter – won

at the last fixture here, and Mike Vanstone’s Teescomponentsfly, who won an Open in

November 2023. Footloose – fourth on each of his last four starts – and Hybery – who

should improve for his seasonal debut, have been running consistently for Arron Butterfield

and Nicola Henton respectively. Chloe Mills’ Top Of The Charts has something to find on

recent form, while First Preference has shown little since leaving Luke Price for Jade

Tuckley.

Also on Saturday 22 March, this time at Tranwell, is another PPORA Level 2 Conditions

Race, this time for ‘Veteran’ horses aged ten and over. It has twelve possible runners,

including four who have already scored this season. Joint-top on ratings are Cash Again,

who gave owner-trainer-rider Becca Shepherd a debut success at Friars Haugh earlier this

month, and Killer Clown – who did likewise for Daisy White at Knightwick on the opening

day of the season. He is now trained locally by Amie Waugh as Daisy is studying at nearby

Newcastle. Not The Chablis, trained by Kit Alexander, runs for Will Ramsay’s ‘Jockey Start’

initiative and has scored twice this year for Jessica Jubb, while Loughermore – in the care of

Amie’s father Simon Waugh, won last time at Hutton Rudby. Gina Andrews – the multiple

champion jockey and in the running to be leading trainer this year, would be paying her first

visit to the Northumberland track and has two entries. Benefaktor races with admirable

consistency (five wins and 12 places from 17 starts), while her mother-in-law Pippa Ellis’

homebred Latenightfumble is a half-sister to recent Cheltenham Festival second

Latenightpass and emulated her brother when taking the Cheltenham Intermediate Final in

2022. Two others that can’t be ruled out on recent form are Jessica McKie’s Watch Law and

Fugitives Drift, owned, trained and ridden by Lucy Brown.

Two of the races on Sunday 30 March are at Maisemore Park. The first is a PPORA

Restricted Race and has attracted 18 entries, headed by Laura Richardson’s Ideal Du Tabert,

who has the best form on paper, having scored in this grade last time at Bangor-on-Dee. He

would carry a penalty, as would Bradley Gibbs’ Ampton winner L’Aventara, out of Welsh

National winner L’Aventure. Mount Anglesby (Tom Britten), Jewel In The Park (Chris Barber)

and Batsman Jack (Kelly Morgan) have all taken Maidens this season and represent leading

yards, while Quickcharge has shown plenty of form in this grade for owner-trainer-rider Gill

Anderson and The Gooner ran well on his British pointing debut for Stuart Sampson. Two

newcomers to the pointing scene are Brave Starlight, professionally trained by David

Dennis, useful between the flags in Ireland and second in the 2023 John Corbet Cup before

going under rules, and Montemares. Also professionally trained – by Tom Lacey – this 4yo

debutant is an intriguing entry in this company but may run in the Young Horse Maiden on

the card instead.

Later on the Maisemore Park card is a PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race for Veteran and

Novice Riders, for which 15 have been entered. Ocean Drifter has made a good impression

winning his last two starts for trainer Tom Britten and promising rider Clara Brewitt and looks the pick on this year’s form. In-form Jo Priest has entered two. Striking Out provided

Emma Williams with a first success last time at Howick, while Barely Famous ran well when

runner-up in the Open there. Fred Hutsby’s Mot Pour Mot would be making his seasonal

debut but won at Kingston Blount last year and will appreciate the spring ground.

Ballyadam Destiny has been placed on all four starts this season for Olive Nicholls and

young jockey Daniel Williams (no relation to Emma), while Celia Plunkett’s Enqarde is

improving race by race. Luke Harvey’s Mulberry Hill would be a first pointing winner in two

seasons for the popular ITV pundit and former professional jockey.

Cotley hosts a PPORA Level 3 Conditions Race and there are seven potential contenders.

Harry Ryall is responsible for two. Top-rated Scoresby’s form figures this season don’t tell

the full story, as his recent fifth was in a Hunter Chase and he would have won at Badbury

Rings but for unseating at the last, while Shanroe Smooch showed his best form last

weekend when runner-up at Milborne St Andrew. Luke Price’s Lavorante has won his last

four, but all were small-field contests, including a match for his Members on his

reappearance, while Touch Tight’s ‘1’ was a walkover. The 13-year-old is a veteran (unlike

the ‘Peter Pan of Pointing’, owner-trainer-rider Phil York!) Mike Vanstone’s Steel Express is

also 13 but continues to run consistently, Olive Nicholls and Daniel Williams could come

here instead of Maisemore Park with another consistent type in Didero Vallis, but

Hadmeathello was well-beaten on his debut for Ella Stone.

Askham Bryan have attracted 11 entries for their PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race for Novice

Riders, the final supported race this weekend. Gina Andrews’ Benefaktor (see Tranwell

above) is top rated and could run here with stable novice Molly Legg on board, but the

combination also has recent High Easter winner Young Rich entered. Zhiguli won here in

February for Cherry Coward and Isla John but has been beaten twice since, while another to

have disappointed since success at the last meeting is Titanium Bullet, trained and ridden

by 18-year-old Felix Foster. William Brown’s Get With It looks on the upgrade based on his

recent Hutton Rudby second – he’s also responsible for Charm Park runner-up Tap Tap

Boom – while Cherry Coward’s second entry, Royal Chant, may be 13 but shouldn’t be

discounted. He’s better than his recent form figures suggest and usually runs in stronger

company.