April 14 / 16.35 Pontefract

16.35

Good

Into The Sky Pontefract Marathon Handicap

  • Prize money: £3140.4
  • 2m 5f 139y
  • Class 6
  • 5 runners
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Into The Sky Pontefract Marathon Handicap

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 667635

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 51

Form & Verdict
Has four wins (1m2f/2m) on his CV but last two were on AW in January 2023; has tumbled down the weights but he's been beaten 6l or more in last seven runs and is untried at this trip; down the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 4

14:20 Musselburgh

Quercus Robur

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

Won on the Flat here (2m, soft) in November; fourth on hurdle debut here (1m7f, good to soft) later that month and improved when runner-up at Kelso (2m, good to soft) in December; he's high on the list today.

9/4

5

(2)

9th Oct 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

16:20 Newcastle (AW)

Quercus Robur

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Adam Nicol

Course regular who landed a fourth win here (his third over this trip) when 28-1 and beating Edwardtheninth one month ago; flopped under a 5lb penalty the following week (Team Endeavour second) but that tactical race may be best ignored; could well bounce back.

7/1

5th

1

(4)

19th Sep 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

17:08 Newcastle (AW)

Quercus Robur

10st 2lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Adam Nicol

Won his fourth race at this track and third over C&D when scoring at 28-1 last Thursday on his return from a break; 5lb penalty doesn't leave him well in but this is a weak event.

2/1

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 66221-

Last run: 167 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in hurdle handicap at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) last month and his last Flat run was a 5l win at Catterick (2m, soft) in October; 5lb higher here but he has form over C&D and is a big player back on the Flat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

12

(1)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 4

17:10 Ascot

Tarbat Ness

9st 4lb

J: Alex Jary

T: John Berry

All five wins at 2m, including three on soft going, latterly at Catterick in October; went back-to-back at Newcastle (AW) at the start of the year and fourth at Ripon (2m, good) on latest outing was close to his best; same mark, so needs to find extra, but he can't be ruled out.

16/1

4th

2

(6)

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Ripon

Tarbat Ness

10st 0lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

Out-and-out stayer who won twice at Newcastle (2m, Tapeta) at the start of the year but the handicapper has been winning the argument since; it remains to be seen whether a return to turf makes any difference in that regard.

6/1

6th

13

(1)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Tarbat Ness

9st 1lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

Out-and-out stayer who won twice at Newcastle (2m, Tapeta) at the start of the year, but he looks high enough in the weights now and makes a belated Polytrack debut.

20/1

Form: 5112-4

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
All of her turf runs have been on good or slower; won two in a row at Musselburgh (1m6f/2m) in October but has mixed record since and was tailed off back over hurdles last month; now only 1lb higher than for last win but she comes with risks attached back in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

7

(13)

18th Nov 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

15:45 Newcastle (AW)

Reel Her In

9st 9lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Ben Haslam

Has done her winning on turf, most recently in May; form has dipped sharply in three runs (hurdles/Flat) since, the penultimate over C&D; not the percentage call.

25/1

3

(4)

9th Oct 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

16:20 Newcastle (AW)

Reel Her In

9st 11lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

Three-time Flat winner since joining Ben Haslam last summer, most recently at Carlisle (2m1f, good to soft) in May; 2lb nudge for that looks fair but suffered a heavy defeat over hurdles when last seen in June; market support would boost her claims.

8/1

10/1

Form: 6-0563

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Four-time AW winner (1m4f/2m), who is lightly raced on turf; probably did too much too soon when respectable third at Wolverhampton (1m6f) last time but his last win was 15 months ago and not sure this step up 2m5f will suit; others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

10th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

17:10 Ludlow

Man Of Riddles

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Max Young

Regressive on the Flat and tailed off returned to hurdles in March; limited appeal now attempting a handicap (1lb wrong).

25/1

8th

5

18th Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:45 Huntingdon

Man Of Riddles

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Max Young

A declining force on the Flat and his return to hurdles (second attempt) over C&D last Wednesday saw him beaten 52l at 300-1.

200/1

12th

7

11th Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

14:58 Huntingdon

Man Of Riddles

11st 6lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Max Young

Sole attempt over hurdles (2m7f) resulted in a heavy defeat in 2023; currently out of form on the Flat; enough to prove.

100/1

25/1

Form: /1/56/

Last run: 1022 days

W: 8st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
Thorough stayer but he's been well held over hurdles (3m-3m3f) in his three starts this year and his last Flat run was in June 2022; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(4)

14th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 139y

Class 6

16:35 Pontefract

Balkotic

8st 13lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Thorough stayer but he's been well held over hurdles (3m-3m3f) in his three starts this year and his last Flat run was in June 2022; others preferred.

25/1

5th

6

(4)

14th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 139y

Class 6

16:35 Pontefract

Balkotic

8st 13lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

raced in second behind clear leader, dropped to last halfway, no chance over 4f out, tailed off

25/1

3rd

4

3rd Apr 2025

Good

3m 3f 9y

Class 5

16:27 Sedgefield

Balkotic

10st 8lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

prominent, lost ground before 4th, dropped to last after 3 out, soon weakened

10/1

Non-runners

Zephlyn

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.50
Straight Forecast £10.16
Trifecta £19.10

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Zephlyn

SPOTLIGHT:

Tarbat Ness

The Times:

Reel Her In

Daily Mail:

Reel Her In

POSTDATA:

Zephlyn

Telegraph:

Zephlyn

The Guardian:

Zephlyn

The Sun:

Zephlyn

The Star:

Zephlyn

NEWMARKET:

Tarbat Ness

D Express:

Tarbat Ness

Daily Mirror:

Tarbat Ness

Daily Record:

Tarbat Ness