Ladbrokes Football Acca Boosty Handicap

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 1m 15.3s

(3)

Will To Win²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J Mitchell| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 84| D

6/4

Progressive; maintained his 100% record on the AW when rallying to see off Shine On Brendan by ½L at Wolverhampton (6f) earlier this month; has been allocated an opening mark of 84 for handicap/Fibresand debut.

Form: 51-1

(1)

Dark Regard²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 82| CD

11/4

Went down all guns blazing from the front when losing her unbeaten AW record (3-4) to Ayr Harbour at Newcastle (7f) three weeks ago; 2-2 over this C&D (Class 5) and merits the utmost respect.

Form: 25111-3

(4)

Speed Merchant^p⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: George Rooke⁽⁷⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 73| CD

11/4

Joined Mick Appleby out of a Wolverhampton seller; 2-5 for his new trainer, including a C&D win (December); higher in the weights, so on paper this looks to be a challenging assignment, although the 7lb claim of George Rooke is considered helpful.

Form: 11615-4

(2)

Dashing Roger³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: W Stone| OR: 70

6/1

Cost a mere £800 as a yearling, but has shown some ability in three starts in novice company - runner-up at odds of 40-1 on Brighton debut (7f, good to soft); it will come as a surprise if he can win this race on handicap debut.

Form: 284-

Forecasts

Will To Win (6/4), Speed Merchant (11/4), Dark Regard (11/4), Dashing Roger (6/1)

A small but fairly select field. The 7lb claim of George Rooke is considered helpful in boosting the chances of Mick Appleby's Speed Merchant although the pair to concentrate upon are the handicap debutant Will To Win and the thoroughly tough DARK REGARD. The selection lost her unbeaten AW record (3-4) when upped-in-trip at Newcastle (7f) three weeks ago. However, there were plenty of positives to take from that performance (not least her unwavering attitude) and she's strongly fancied to make it 3-3 on the Fibresand at Southwell.