TOTO SKYLLACHY 5.10 PONTEFRACT
Toto Skyllachy was beaten some 14ls in a 0-90 last time and 15ls in a 0-85 the time before which could mean he has had enough for the season. However, he was beaten just 1.3lsin a 0-85 carrying 9-10 on his third last run that gives him a leading chance here. He run a cracker that day as he reared as the stalls opened and still managed to poke his head in front in the final furlong only to get mugged close home. The winner of that race Swiftly Done has come out and run a cracker in a 0-95 the other day beaten about 2ls off 5lbs higher. Six of Toto Skyllachy’s eight wins have come on a stiff track. Danny Tudhope’s record on him reads; 6124253323611039. When racing in class 4 that improves to 12221139. On a stiff track it improves again to; 12211.
Headline News is the likely jolly after winning a 0-80 last time. She is up to 0-85 and carries 2lbs more physical weight off a 10lbs higher mark. She is now 14lbs higher than her win at Leicester in a 0-75 but she is clearly thriving at present. The stable have gone 15 runners without a winner over the last 18 days and Rae Guest is 0-9 in handicaps at Pontefract.
Artful Prince has gone from 48 to 76 in the last three months. He was beaten 10ls in a 0-75 last time. He was headed at the 2f marker so the drop back to 10f will be in his favour, 3-4 over 10f. However, he is 7lbs higher than he was for his last win in class 6, he is drawn on the M62 and James Given is 1-28 in the last month. Artful Prince is yet to race in this class.
Arc Light won over course and distance in July in a 0-75 off 70 and will be of interest off 1lb higher carrying 8lbs less weight. However, he is 0-6 in 0-85 never placing.
Asgardella won her debut maiden on good to firm last year and has now gone ten races without troubling the judge. She ran ok in a 0-85 last time off 79 to suggest this might be within her range off 3lbs lower and 4lbs less physical weight. She has never placed in three races over 10f though being by Duke Of Marmalade she should stay. I’m not sure his progeny relish cut nor do they like stiff tracks, 4-96.
Musnad looks like he is having a sharpener before embarking on a novice chase campaign. He is 1-23 on the flat, the win off 71 at Musselburgh last year. Musnad is 0-8, never placing after a break off 30 days or more and is 0-4 on soft ground, never placing. He is 0-6 on a stiff track. De Sousa looks a significant booking with a 27% strike for the yard.
Life And Times is an unexposed Mark Johnston 5yo who must have had problems judging by the amount of runs he has had. He could improve for the step up to 10f but breeding suggests this distance is right on the limit of his stamina.
San Cassiano is 0-6 on good to soft or slower and 1-19 going left handed. He has raced off 80 six times this season and unplaced in them all.
Hydrant is 0-8 in 0-85.
Venutius is still finding his way at Phil Kirby’s and will improve in time. He is 0-12 on undulating tracks.
Conclusion: Silvestre De Sousa is 12-31 at Pontefract this season and he has 7 rides today. Musnad could run well under his guidance but I prefer the chance of Toto Skyllachy who is tactically adept and is a big price here considering the opposition. He won over 0.5f shorter at Carlisle in a claimer earlier in the summer so he should stay this 10f and the ground won’t bother him. He is very well handicapped and has won in this grade and he should repay each way support.