Into The Sky Pontefract Marathon Handicap

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 4m 59.29s

(6)

Reel Her In²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: B Haslam| OR: 59

2/1

Back-to-back Musselburgh winner at up to 2m in October. 18/1, sixth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (19.8f, good to soft) 25 days ago. Interesting contender back on the level with this trip expected to be in range.

Form: 0/5112-4

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(2)

Tarbat Ness^b²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Gina Mangan| T: John Berry| OR: 56

11/10

Doesn't always find much for pressure but he did finally get it right at Catterick in October (15.9f). Been hurdling since, good second of 5 in handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (19.6f, good to soft) 26 days ago. Significantly up in trip back on the Flat with blinkers returned.

Form: 366221

(1)

Man Of Riddles¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Grace McEntee| T: M Young| OR: 55

12/1

Good third of 7 in handicap (33/1) at Wolverhampton (14f) 14 days ago, having run of race. Significantly up in trip (which isn't certain to suit) on what is a very rare turf outing.

Form: 56-0563

(5)

Quercus Robur^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Nicol| OR: 51

9/2

Eleven runs since last win in 2023. 6¾ lengths fifth of 8 to Zephlyn in handicap (18/1) at Newcastle (16.2f) 20 days ago. Strong traveller who isn't really crying out for this stamina test but he does lurk on a dangerous mark if seeing it out.

Form: 667635

(4)

Balkotic^b,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Aiden Brookes⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 50

20/1

Hasn't raced on the Flat since 2022. Third of 5 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (27f, good to soft, 14/1) 11 days ago. Stamina won't be an issue but others still more persuasive.

Form: 2556/

Non-Runners

(3)

Zephlyn²⁰

Weight: 9-9| Age: 6

T: Ewan Whillans J: Jason Hart

Forecasts

Tarbat Ness (11/10), Reel Her In (2/1), Zephlyn (9/4), Quercus Robur (9/2), Man Of Riddles (12/1), Balkotic (20/1)

Most of these have stamina to prove over this marathon Flat trip but REEL HER IN promises to stay and back-to-back wins at Musselburgh in October read pretty well in the context of this. Zephlyn and Tarbat Ness have race fitness on their side, which can go a long way at this stage of the season, so they rate the main dangers.