Mark Jones Racing, 259 Grange Road, Christchurch (2025)

20/11/2025

Massive night of harness racing tonight at Addington and we're there with a team of five to take part.

Race 3: #5 Tokyo Rose - Sam Ottley
"Absolutely no luck at all last week when we thought she'd be a good chance. If she can get away well and land an economical trip throughout then she's a chance in this field."

Race 4: #13 Rush - Sam Ottley
"She really deserved that win last week after some good performances. A bit of a step up in class here though, but she's trotting well and confident so is an upset top three chance."

Race 5: #4 Queen Lizzy - Sam Ottley
"The race map didn't really work out for her in the big one last week but this week's one might and with the right kind of trip she can run a big race."

Race 5: #9 Ripples - Luke McCarthy
"No luck from the draw last week and we're banking on a bit of it this week from the draw again. She's good enough to bounce back though, and we're expecting a big run."

Race 12: #8 Dawn To Dark - Sam Ottley
"Not a lot went his way on Friday last week. We'll need a lot of luck tonight from a tricky draw but he's going good enough that if everything fell into place he could run a cheeky race."

Good luck to all our owners tonight!

19/11/2025

Off to Rangiora today with three horses to do battle across the day.

Race 5: #1 Paramount Lady - Sam Ottley
"Good run first up but has been away from the races a wee while since then. Ability is there and it looks a nice race for her but she'll improve with the run."

Race 5: #5 Kowhai Sunburst - Blair Orange
"A rare mistake last time from her. But she'd been OK prior to that. If she can get herself into a nice spot from the mobile then she's not the worst top four chance today."

Race 9: #7 Switch On - Sam Ottley
"Manners have been letting her down of late but we know the ability to win a race like this is there. All comes down to what kind of mood she's in when she gets out there."

Good luck to the owners of our trio of runners.

13/11/2025

Back in action today at Addington including chasing success in a couple of the feature races of the day.

Race 4: #4 Zoom X - Sam Ottley
"Perhaps not quite at his best in the last two runs but gets a chance to turn things around again here. Nice draw and he's a pretty capable horse so looks a good top four chance with luck."

Race 4: #9 Dawn To Dark - Jonny Cox
"Big win at Oamaru last time out and he just keeps getting better and better this horse. Wide draw really hurts us today so we're relying on a bit of luck to bring us into play and only a knockout chance."

Race 4: #12 The Coalman - Ricky May
"Didn't get a lot of luck on Tuesday but he's best when driven like that. He'll be out to find a helmet again today and hopefully he's running through the line strongly."

Race 6: #12 Tempo Warrior - Sam Ottley
"Getting hurt by bad draws in the mobiles and it makes it very hard for him. He's up against a pretty good field here today and will need a lot of luck."

Race 7: #8 Rush - Sam Ottley
"Found the line really well on Tuesday from a tricky spot. Hopefully she can step well today and put herself a little more forward in the field and she's a decent top four chance if things work out."

Race 8: #6 Tokyo Rose - Sam Ottley
"She was good at Ashburton I thought and we get a chance to roll forward here today and try and land on the speed. Probably not quite as good as the best of them in this but she won't be far away."

Race 9: #5 Queen Lizzy - Sam Ottley
"She's had a couple of quiet trials to get her ready for this and they've both been what we wanted. Front line draw is a plus and hopefully she can find a good spot and be running home strongly at the finish."

Race 9: #13 Ripples - Jonny Cox
"She's come through the Ashburton run really well, I'm very happy with her. Race tactics are going to dictate our chances a little bit off the second row but she's good enough to be there fighting out the finish and can go close with the right amount of luck."

Good luck to all our owners today.

12/11/2025

Just three for us today at Ashburton on what looks to be a wet old day.

Race 6: #10 Bettor Way - Sam Ottley
"Great to get the win at Kaikoura last week. Racing really well and while stepping up in grade a little it again looks like a race we should be quite competitive in."

Race 8: #4 Kowhai Sunburst - Sam Ottley
"Racing well since winning the maiden and handling the next grade nicely. Should be able to get handy enough to the speed today to be a top four chance again."

Race 11: #17 Switch On - Sam Ottley
"Proving a little costly at the moment but does have a motor on the right day. Would need to trot the whole way and there's a fair few to get around but a knockout chance."

Good luck to all our owners this afternoon.

10/11/2025

Cup Day today at Addington, good luck to everyone involved especially the owners of our seven runners across the day.

Race 1: #12 What The Bell - Sam Ottley
"Manners, they're the key. Hasn't been getting it right lately which has been frustrating but, on his day, he'd be competitive in a race like this. No mistakes, and we're in play."

Race 2: #2 Burnham Girl - Sam Ottley
"She's raced herself into form at the right time and gets into a race today where she can be competitive. A good draw to work with and if she can find the markers then she's a decent top four chance."

Race 4: #10 The Coalman - Will Rixon
"Better at Kaikoura when third and will appreciate the strong tempo that comes with race day. Bonus too that we'll be on the markers the whole way and covering no extra ground. Can sneak into a top four finish if things unfold well."

Race 4: #11 Zoom X - Sam Ottley
"We had to try and lead up at Kaikoura, and it just told late in the piece. I am happy enough with him though, and if we can get a nice trip through from the second line and be close enough turning for home, he's not the worst chance in an open field."

Race 7: #3 Rush - Sam Ottley
"She's going well at the moment, and her usual good stand start manners will put her on the speed early. Some pretty nice ones chasing us though as you'd expect but with the right kind of run, she could sneak a place with her best effort."

Race 9: #1 Blazing Knuckles - Luke McCarthy
"We've got the draw we wanted with her. She's racing well is fit and ready to go and while she might lack the class of some of her rivals, she's an honest filly who should get a quiet run on the markers and will be looking to round the race out strongly"

Race 13: #14 Tempo Warrior - Sam Ottley
"He found the going a bit tough at Kaikoura, but he deserved a crack at that race. Not helped here by the barrier draw at all and he'll need plenty of favours to fill a top four spot from there."

Enjoy the great day of racing ahead.

06/11/2025

After a really impressive win from Dawn To Dark yesterday, we'll look to keep the roll going tonight at Addington with three chances for the night.

Race 5: #3 Wicked Annabella - Brett Beckwith
"Still getting the hang of the racing game really, but she does have a good motor and if she was to do everything right tonight it would be no surprise to see her run a bold race."

Race 5: #8 Switch On - Blair Orange
"Very much depends on which version of Switch On turns up. The one with manners would be competitive in a race like this and if she can do everything right, you'd think she's a strong chance."

Race 6: #11 Major Torque - Blair Orange
"Good to get that win last time out and he is really getting back to somewhere near his best again which is great. I've been very happy with him since that last run and he gets into a very winnable race tonight if things pan out well from the draw."

Good luck to the owners of all three runners tonight.

06/11/2025

Just the one for us at Oamaru today.

Race 5: #5 Dawn To Dark - Jonny Cox
"In good form at the moment and finds a nice race today. Should be able to get handy and be a strong each way chance."

Good luck to our owners.

02/11/2025

Back at the South Bay Racecourse after a good day yesterday for day two of the Kaikoura meeting.

Race 3: #7 Tokyo Rose - Santtu Raitala
"She's racing really well at the moment; her Ashburton run was great given where she was at the 800m. Tricky draw and a good field to deal with today which makes it tough but she's honest enough to run top four."

Race 4: #3 What The Bell - Sam Ottley
"Manners the big key with her, she needs to bring them. No issues with the track as she's a former winner here and if she brings her best then she shouldn't be too far away."

Race 6: #1 Rush - Sam Ottley
"Finding some form nicely lately and gets in her OK from a good draw. If she can step quick and get a nice trip on the markers then she shouldn't be too far away again."

Race 7: #2 Tempo Warrior - Sam Ottley
"Great stand start horse so should land himself on the speed early won't be easy though because he's up against a very smart field."

Race 10: #1 The Coalman - Ricky May
"Hasn't missed a cheque on the track so enjoys it here. Should appreciate the drop back from a strong field at Motukarara last time too. Small field suits and shouldn't be too far away."

Race 10: #3 Zoom X - Sam Ottley
"He deserved a crack at the Sophomore last time but just found it a little too tough from a tricky draw. Much better suited here and if he runs up to his Timaru effort two starts back he shouldn't be too far away."

Good luck to all our owners today.

01/11/2025

We kick off the annual Kaikoura weekend with five runners today.

Race 3: #11 Kowhai Sunburst - Sam Ottley
"Racing really honestly and seems to be handling the next grade up since winning a maiden well. Looks a good place hope today."

Race 5: #3 Wicked Annabella - Michael Nimcyzk
"She has to behave herself but the short course mobile should suit her if she does. Not the worst chance in this line up."

Race 5: #9 Switch On - James MacDonald
"She might get the kind of run she needs here along the markers and I wouldn't be surprised to see her claiming a top four finish today."

Race 6: #10 Bettor Way - Sam Ottley
"I'm pretty happy with him this week but it won't be easy from the second row draw but can play a role with luck."

Race 10: #7 Blazing Knuckles - Sam Ottley
"She was thrown into that race last week and duly delivered. She gets in really well again here and should be our best winning chance of the day."

Good luck to the owners of all our runners today.

26/10/2025

Off to Ashburton today for a big day of racing.

Race 2: #9 Connie Golightly - Sam Ottley
"Probably not going quite as good as she can at the moment but will eventually pick one up. Good field today so we'll need all favours."

Race 4: #5 Ripples - Jonny Cox
"Heading into this one a bit on the short side with a view to having her really ready to go in a couple of weeks. Her work has been OK and the trial was good but she'll need a few things to go her way."

Race 7: #5 Tokyo Rose - Blair Orange
"Really good win last time out and her confidence levels are up. This is a big step up though so she'll be looking for all the shortcuts."

Race 7: #6 Francent - Sam Ottley
"Great to get the win with her last time and from a front line draw with her early speed she's a chance to get onto the speed again and be a decent each way player."

Race 12: #5 Kowhai Nugget - Sam Ottley
"Will be better for that last run but perhaps still on the way up and there's a couple of smart ones in here that will make things a little tricky."

Good luck to all our owners today.

25/10/2025

Four for us today on the grass at Timaru.

Race 1: #13 Blazing Knuckles - Sam Ottley
"Coming into this on the fresh side but with one crack at them she should be pretty hard to beat in this field."

Race 7: #6 Bettor Way - Sam Ottley
"Improving with each run and good last time out. Gets into a good race today and should he a decent top four chance again."

Race 10: #15 Rush - Sam Ottley
"Right kind of race for her today and she does like the grass. Will need to do everything right but can be in the finish."

Race 11: #2 Dawn To Dark - Sam Ottley
"In good form at the moment and we get a good draw to work with. Blinds go on and we'll be pressing forward so should be a good chance."

Good luck to the owners of all four horses.

24/10/2025

Two for us tonight at Addington Raceway.

Race 2: #4 Major Torque - Sam Ottley
"Heading back in the right direction and lands in a nice race tonight should be able to ping onto the markers early and be a nice chance from there."

Race 6: #2 Burnham Girl - Sam Ottley
"Improved a bit off the first run back but there's a couple of smarties in here who will make it hard to get the win this week."

Good luck to the owners of both horses tonight.

Mark Jones Racing

20/11/2025

19/11/2025

13/11/2025

12/11/2025

10/11/2025

06/11/2025

06/11/2025

02/11/2025

01/11/2025

26/10/2025

25/10/2025

24/10/2025

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