SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY - BROCKLESBY PARK
By Jake Exelby
The PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race at Brocklesby Park on Saturday 8 th February is one of six
races supported by the PPORA this weekend. It has attracted 14 entries, headed by Perfect
Pirate – now 13 – who gave former champion conditional jockey Luca Morgan a first training
success at Paxford in April before running respectably in two Hunter Chases. Heidi
Brookshaw’s Buzzard Trix is second top-rated but seems to reserve his best for Tabley in
May, while Michael Dawson’s Golden Taipan (older readers will be familiar with the exploits
of his top-class pointers Sweet Diana, Upham Lord and Palypso De Creek) also performs well
later in the season. Gina Andrews’ 12yo Benefaktor is another with admirable consistency
(five wins and ten places from 15 starts) while two progressive types to consider include
Glenmount, owned by PPA supremo Paul Miller, for Julie Wadland – placed in two
competitive Intermediates this season – and Tim Garton’s Perfect Attitude, who won both
his points in 2023/2024. Red Opium scored recently at Sheriff Hutton for Cherry Coward and
Lee Moulson’s Silver Sheen, a winner in this grade last season, should come on for his
Knightwick reappearance.
SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY - CHIPLEY PARK
By Jake Exelby
The PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race for Novice Riders at Chipley Park on Sunday 26th January is one of three PPORA races this weekend. It has attracted 13 entries, and could be a head-to-head between the licensed yard of David Pipe – who is supporting the amateur sport where he started by providing rides to up-and-coming pilots – and pointing stalwart Jo Priest, one of the most under-rated handlers in the game. Both have two entries. Pipe will rely on Fighter Allen, winner of a similar contest at Wadebridge recently, or Sidi Ismael, a close second in the Open on the same card. Neither are yet jocked-up, but will not lack assistance from the saddle. Chaddesley Corbett holds the key to Priest’s selection – Llandinabo Lad won there over Christmas, while Everything Now scored impressively in December 2023 but has not raced since. Both riders, William Badlan and Alexandra Ingram respectively, are useful. Dennis Pugh’s Doc Carver has won this race for the past two years under the owner-trainer’s daughter Rebecca but is 14 now and may need the race on his seasonal debut, while The Kings Writ is top-rated for Josh Newman and won for Hannah Morgan at Wadebridge in December, but was firmly put in his place by Fighter Allen last time, is another 14yo, and carries a big penalty.
SUNDAY 9 FEBRUARY - FRIARS HAUGH
By Jake Exelby
The fixture at Friars Haugh on Sunday 9 th February hosts three PPORA races, including two
Maidens. The first of this is the PPORA Maiden (no weight for age allowance) and 14 horses
have been entered. The best pointing form in the field has been shown by Jessica McKie’s
Alnwick second Where’s Willy – five lengths in front of first season owner-trainer-rider Amy
Milburn and Major Champion in third. They in turn were just in front of Diana Walton’s
fifth-placed Whatudoing, with Notnowbob (Liz Nixon) and All Ways And Ever (Victor
Thompson) further back. High On The Hill for Jimmy Walton (no relation) and Norman
Sanderson’s She Is The Enemy have been runner-up in similar company this season, at
Hexham and Friars Haugh respectively, while Sheriff Hutton third Scalloway Castle and Built
By Rossies – favourite when brought down at Askham Bryan on Sunday – represent the
leading yards of John Dawson and Joe Wright.
The second such race is a PPORA Open Maiden over the shorter distance of two-and-a-half
miles and it has eight possible runners. Three are also entered in the first Maiden, including
Built By Rossies and Scalloway Castle, with the third double entry being Flying Skipper,
trained by Rebecca Hewit and owned by Doreen Calder. His great-grand-dam Eye Valley is a
half-sister to the legendary Flying Ace, a winner of 59 races, nearly all of them with Doreen
in the saddle, and it will be great to see those colours back on the course. Michael Cregan’s
Phantoms Cave boasts the best form, most recently coming second at Friars Haugh – the
third and fourth both won at the weekend – with Kate Mactaggart’s Deerstalker behind
when unseating. Chief Wiggum was a well-beaten third for Camilla Neil on his pointing
debut, but in stronger company, while Jack Teal’s debutants are always worth considering
and he could be represented by newcomer Matterofexpression here. Victor Thompson’s
Park Hind completes the entries but looks to have plenty to find on his rules form.
The third supported contest at Friars Haugh is a PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race, which has
nine entries. Will Ramsay’s Jockey Start initiative is bearing fruit this season, with all three
riders and horses winning, and his own Diable De Sivola – to be ridden again by Jesika
Rennie – looks the pick to repeat his success at the last meeting here. James Cookson’s
Vivas has plenty of form in the book but has been lightly raced recently and was well behind
Diable De Sivola on his reappearance. Fugitives Drift, owned, trained and ridden by Lucy Brown, won at Overton last season but has shown little under rules since – William Brown’s Get With It has better recent form in that sphere for Dan Skelton, albeit in a low grade. Raecius Felix had one decent piece of pointing form for Cerys Murray last season while Trust Me Nate – despite stepping up several levels from his impressive Maiden win here for John Dawson – cannot be ruled out from showing the necessary improvement.
SUNDAY 9 FEBRUARY - HIGHAM
By Mike Ashby
PPORA Conditions (Level 2)
Rhythm Is A Dancer makes most appeal after his 3 rd placing at Revesby three weeks ago,
behind two horses rated above him namely Go Go Geronimo and Benefactor. With Tom
Hutsby again in the saddle this form looks capable of success to add to the four career
point wins already achieved by trainer, Fred Hutsby’s runner. A likely, fitter Good
Source, who was Ed Turner’s first runner of the season at Horseheath two weeks ago,
holds previous course winning form when taking a Members’ race in March last year.
Hardline could make his first appearance for new owners and trainer Andrew Pennock
having previously competed in some high profile races for Gordon Elliot and amassing
over £240K in prize money. Senior Citizen also has a new trainer in Alan Hill who has
taken over responsibilities from Alan King for whom Senior Citizen won 5 races under
rules. William Ewart, Jacks Touch and First Preference all have alternative entries across
the card with the latter possessing some decent form back in 2023 when trained by Luke
Price and is now owned and trained by Jade Tuckley. If some of those horses running
for new connections, for the first time, can get their new association off to a competitive
start then this race could be a very open affair.
PPORA Conditions (Level 2) for Novice Riders
This race has attracted an entry of 9 runners but some of these hold engagements in
other races here today. Shentri won a 3-runner race at Cocklebarrow two weeks ago
when accounting for Precious Bounty by 15L. He’s due to be ridden today by Louis
Hadfield who’s only had one previous ride. In contrast, Kayf Hernando is one of the
rides available to Tom Hutsby who’s had 8 wins from 56 rides. Kayf Hernando won at
Dunsmore in November when beating Longshanks by 6L. On his last run at Larkhill he
was 5 th , 23 ½L behind Givega. The other mount available to Tom is Rhythm Is A Dancer,
trained by his father Fred. On his latest start he was 3 rd at Revesby Park last month
beaten 6L by Go Go Geronimo. Soldier At War unseated his rider early at Horseheath
two weeks ago. On his final run last season at Dingley he was 2 nd , 2L adrift of
Thunderstruck. Jacks Touch has been well beaten in both starts this season and maybe
best watched today. A watching brief is also advised for First Preference who has failed
to finish on 3 of his last 4 starts. Due Reward was 3 rd at Tabley on his final run last
season going down by 9L to Eeze A Saint in May. Both of the entries due to be ridden by
Tom Hutsby, Kayf Hernando and Rhythm Is A Dancer would have decent chances and
Shentri despite the rider’s inexperience is an alternative.
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