Garthorpe
By Jake Exelby
The PPORA are supporting five races across four courses this coming weekend, the first of
which is a PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race for Novice Riders at Garthorpe on Saturday 22nd
March, and for which 14 have been entered. Top-rated is Kelly Morgan’s Shentri, a winner
on his seasonal debut, a faller when poised to score next time, then twice runner-up. He
would be a popular local winner for first-season rider Poppy Shaw. Kelly’s brother Tommy
has the next best in the potential line-up – like his sister’s charge, The Composeur has been
second on his last two outings. Bradley Gibbs’ Premier Fantasy, Hannah Mahon’s Largy
Mountain and Neil Gittins’ Blagthebookies have all won this season. The former is stepping
up in grade, the latter was successful at Bangor-on-Dee last time for new mother Iola
Sankey and Largy Mountain ran better at Didmarton than his finishing position suggests.
Another to consider is Steady The Ship, trained by Phil Rowley. He has been running in
better company than this under rules.
Milborne St Andrew
By Jake Exelby
Also on Saturday 22 nd March, this time at Milborne St Andrew, is a PPORA Maiden for horses
aged five and over, run over the shorter distance of two-and-a-half miles. It has ten possible
runners, including Joe Drinkwater’s Sogna In Grande, whose Kingston Blount second is the
best pointing for on display here. Tennessee Orange has been placed twice between the
flags for her handler Chris Barber, while pointing debutant Sparkling Duke had some placed
form for Joe Tizzard under rules and his new trainer Josh Newman is in blinding form. Blue
Topaz represents the powerful Francesca Poste yard, but the rest have little to recommend
them on form, although Lily Bradstock reports Kalipso His to be going well at home.
Ston Easton
By Jake Exelby
The PPORA Level 2 Conditions Race for Veteran and Novice Riders at Ston Easton on Sunday
23 rd March has attracted 12 entries, headed by two from the Jo Priest yard in Chaddesley
Corbett winner Llandinabo Lad and Barely Famous, who ran well in a higher grade last time.
Phil Rowley’s Steady The Ship could run here instead of Garthorpe. Gateau De Miel, trained
by Myles Osborne ran with promise after missing the break at Kingston Blount, Abigail
Henry’s For Rita and Caroline Keevil’s Palmaria – making her seasonal debut – would have a
chance on last season’s form, while the biggest cheers may herald a visit to the winners
enclosure for Harriet Waight’s consistent Sake Of Secrecy or Luke Harvey’s Mulberry Hill.
The former is owned by ‘Mr Larkhill’, Stan Rawlins, and the latter would be a first pointing
winner in two seasons for the popular ITV pundit and former professional jockey.
Fakenham
By Ray Newby
The PPORA Conditions race is for veteran riders who at declaration are 40 years or over and novice riders who at the start of the season have ridden no more than 5 winners under any rules of
racing. Captain Biggles hails from the Gina Andrews yard and won on his latest start at
Ampton with Gina aboard when he beat Rhythm Is A Dancer by 8 L with a possible
rival today Take To Heart a further 4 L away in 3 rd . He’s due to be ridden today by
Molly Legg who won her first race at High Easter earlier this month. Rupert Stearn is
the most experienced rider in the race with 118 pointing winners and won the hunter
‘chase here on 14 th March. He has two possible rides one being Our Jet, owned by his
father Simon and trained by David Kemp. He’s also listed to ride Good Source for the
Ed Turner yard. Our Jet would have the better chance. Our Jet was a 4 time winner
under rules for Dan Skelton. He was 2 nd on his UK pointing debut at Garthorpe going
down by 25 L to Fier Jaguen in a Mixed Open late last month. Good Source was 3 rd at
Ampton earlier this month, going down by a ¾ of a length to Jersey Fromentin in a
Conditions race. Take To Heart won this race last season with Cian Murphy aboard and
Cian is named again for the Ed Turner-trained runner. The Composeur has been 2 nd on
his two recent starts. He was beaten ¾ L to Chillinlikeavillain at Cocklebarrow under
Aimee Jones in late January. Red Maple has been placed on both runs this season. He
was 3 rd at Garthorpe beaten just over 3 L behind Mylestown Upper a month ago. No
jockey is named but it’s possible Cian Murphy will ride if Take To Heart doesn’t run.
Not That Fuisse beat Precious Bounty at Dingley late last season by 2 L when ridden and
trained by Gina Andrews. However Not That Fuisse pulled up on his first start this
season at Kimble for new connections. Going may have been against him that day.
Precious Bounty won a novice riders race at Badbury Rings early in the season by a
distance but was well beaten on his most recent outing at Larkhill earlier this month
and others are preferred.
Comments