Event previews

PREVIEW - North Cotswold - Easter Monday 21st April

  • Posted: Wednesday, 16th April 2025
  • Author: Andrew King
  • Photo: Neale Blackburn

Paxford's ever-popular Easter Bank Holiday Monday meeting has attracted a healthy 84 entries which should ensure some competitive action with the first of six races scheduled to be off at 1pm.

The feature on the card is the Mixed Open with much depending on whether Lift Me Up, owned by Formula One boss Christian Horner and his ex-Spice Girl wife Geri, takes his chance as he holds an alternative entry at Eyton-On-Severn.

Without his presence the race opens up with the likes of Loughan and IK Brunel coming firmly into the equation and another showdown between the season's two leading lady riders, Gina Andrews and Izzie Hill respectively.

Both horses clashed at Kingston Blount where IK Brunel came out on top but with a slight turnaround in the weights and this flatter course very much in Loughan's favour, he gets the nod on this occasion.

The Intermediate contest also has something of a very open look about it with the likes of Jullou De Grissay, Kilfilum Woods and Lavorante all catching the eye if they turn up.

Jullou De Grissay had been in cracking form earlier in the season but has not run since winning decisively at Cocklebarrow while the errant Kilfilum Woods has shown his moody side on a couple of occasions recently - the most recent when refusing to race at Buckfastleigh.

On his best behaviour Fran Poste's charge would probably take some beating and he would be the selection with Lavorante, who won the Members at Howick, being a live danger as he will surely prosper for that seasonal debut.

Ex-jockey Luca Morgan has made a good start to his training career and could be on the mark again with On Springs , who was impressive when scoring on his first outing between the flags at Kingston Blount a couple of weeks ago.

This represents something of a stiffer task for the ten-year-old but he can take it all in his stride. Anybody looking for a bit of value could do worse than Wireless Operator. He has been in good form this Spring without getting his head in front.

Bennettsbridge shaped like a winner waiting to happen when runner-up in a similar contest at Maisemore Park and he can make the most of a decent opportunity in the Five Years Old And Over Maiden

There seems no reason why he cannot build on that performance and should give a good account of himself. Dr Lockdown was behind the selection last time but there is every chance things might well be a bit closer this time around.

The PPORA Restricted race over 2m 4f might well suit the running style of Get Bye as the ten-year-old likes to dictate matters from the front and this step back down in distance at a sharpish circuit like Paxford could easily play to his strengths.

I Don't Know won easily at Shelfield Park just over a week ago and could well bid for a quick follow up while Mr Bezi is set to make his seasonal reappearance but could be better suited by three miles.

As usual the Members race kicks off the afternoon's action and the 14 entries are likely to thin out a bit come declaration time. Well Mushelle was far from disgraced behind the impressive In A Sonnet last time and can find the calmer waters of this race much more to her liking.

The well-regarded winner went for a tidy sum at the Cheltenham Sale soon afterwards so the mare only has to run up to that form to go very close in this company.

Getting there 2m E of Chipping Campden between B4035 and B4479. GL55 6XS