PPORA Race Previews: 24/05/25

Connections of Bothwell Bridge after victory last season (Nico Morgan)

By Jake Exelby

The final weekend of the ‘official’ season (point-to-pointing continues with two fixtures in Devon in June) sees the final four PPORA-supported races of the season. 63 have taken place in total, with six of the planned 69 being abandoned. The first of these is a PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race at Dingley on Saturday 24th May, and seven have been entered. Top-rated is Kelly Morgan’s Bothwell Bridge, yet to win this season and beaten in a Members race last time, but useful at his best. Four of his rivals won last time out, two of whom are trained by Gina Andrews – her Pillar Rock completed his hat-trick at Kingston Blount and Young Rich scored at Mollington. Dale Peters’ Mountain Assault won at the last meeting here, while Jessica Nevin’s Ecco was rewarded for his consistent season by victory at Tabley at the weekend. Stuart Morris’ Master Malcolm ran well when runner-up at Edgcote on Sunday but Russian Diamond – trained by Francesca Poste – looks to have developed his own ideas about the game.

Nine have been entered for the PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race for Novice Riders at Kingston Blount on Sunday 25th May, over the shorter distance of two miles and about five furlongs, and the entries comprise several in-form horses and trainers. Two are trained by Tim Underwood, who confirmed this race as the plan for Ask Nile, four times a winner this season and just touched off when bidding for a nap hand last time. “He’ll run unless the wheels come off the wagon,” his ebullient trainer – who is bidding to win the Area trainers title for the first time – told me. “Walter Barnett will ride.” Caspers Court sets the standard based on his recent wins at Flete Park and Holnicote, closely followed by Lavorante – who has won both his starts this season (he also walked over last weekend), including at the last meeting here. Gina Andrews’ Young Rich has got rider Molly Legg off the mark this season with victories at High Easter and Mollington, James Luck’s Aikenbreakinheart has shown is best form when second in a match at Edgcote – unseating early last time – while Fred Hutsby’s course winner Mot Pour Mot has been out of form this season but showed more when third at Edgcote on Sunday. Gina pronounced Young Rich a definite runner, saying, “He runs and Molly rides – he’s her horse and has provided her first two winners. He’s the perfect horse for a novice rider – he jumps well, travels strongly and always tries.” “Mot Pour Mot definitely runs again,” confirmed Fred. “He’s come out of his race fine and the owners are keen to go again. Two-and-a-half miles will be perfect for him – he doesn’t quite get home over the full trip, and we’ll be able to make more use of him.” Caspers Court’s trainer, Josh Newman, on the other hand, admitted, “He’ll only run if we bring El Capitaine and is more likely to go to Upcott Cross.”

Chaddesley Corbett hosts the final two races of the PPORA calendar Monday 26th May, and the card opens with another PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race for Novice Riders, which has attracted 12 entries. Unusually for such a race at this stage of the season, none of them won last time out, although five were runner-up and four more were placed. The intriguingly-named Badbad Leroy Brown’s Tabley second was a good effort on his reappearance – and the veteran would be a rare runner in points for rules trainer Sarah Hollinshead and jockey Cameron Hillhouse, who usually rides on the flat. Julie Wadland’s fellow veteran Golden Tobouggan disappointed last time after two seconds, Jo Priest’s Striking Out has been placed on all three outings since getting Emma Williams off the mark at Howick, and her other entry Barely Famous – who Clara Brewitt will ride in the hope of securing the female novice riders title – is suffering from a bout of seconditis, having been runner-up four times in a row. Russell Teague’s O’Hallorans Castle is in good form with two wins this season but is stepping up in grade from Restricteds and Francesca Poste has entered three, including Westhill, who ran well at Kimble last time and would be a maiden success for Anna Mackenzie.

The opening contest is immediately followed by a PPORA Restricted Race, which has attracted ten entries, headed by Elen Wylie’s Jullou De Grissay, winner of his first two starts this season before finishing third last time after a break. He would carry a 5lb penalty, as would the aforementioned O’Hallorans Castle. These two are clear on ratings, but no fewer than six of their potential rivals won last time out, three of them last weekend. Two are trained by Jo Priest and tasted victory at Tabley – Citizen Jane took the Restricted there (so would also have a penalty) and Thais Toir won the Maiden on his pointing debut. The other recent winners were also all successful in Maiden company. Alan Hill’s Oka Tsuki scored at Peper Harow on Saturday while Rhiannon Lodge’s Fayrely Fruitful – a daughter of the prolific pointer Fruit Fayre – has had a month’s break since winning at Eyton-on-Severn over Easter. Fred Hutsby will be hoping Carpe Diem can build on his Dingley win, and Chris Barber’s Eileen’s Milan was another to win on his first pointing start, at Holnicote.