19:30 Wolverhampton

Monday 24 February 2020

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Handicap

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 2m 39.62s

(7)

Mr Shady^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: J S Moore| OR: 70

5/1

Off the mark at the eighth time of asking when upped in trip to 1m2f as he won at Lingfield. Off today's 4lb higher mark he subsequently struggled over the same C&D so needs another step up in trip to bring further progression.

Form: 662-617

(1)

Striking Approach³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 68

16/1

Handicap debutant finished roughly midfield in all three qualifiers with a third of six over 1m½f here latest. Mixed messages pedigree wise for this longer trip but dam side is full of speed so not a certain stayer.

Form: 46-3

(4)

Beggarman²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: J S Moore| OR: 68

16/1

Stepped up to 1m2f as he finished fifth beaten less than 2L on handicap debut at Lingfield (Mr Shady seventh). Half brother to a hurdle winner so ought to appreciate the extra 2f today so career-best possible although very much needed.

Form: 07-35

(2)

Cottonopolis¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 67

9/2

Career best effort to finish second of 10 beaten 1½L on handicap debut over 1m2f at Lingfield before one-paced third over same trip at Chelmsford. Runners from this yard almost always improve when upped in trip so very much feared here.

Form: 26-523

(3)

Dazzling Darren⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: K T O'Neill| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 53| D

4/6

Well placed by shrewd Irish trainer to land back-to-back AW handicaps earlier this month over 1m2f and 1m4f. Handicapper ups the ante with a 4lb hike but he remains the one to beat especially as the only proven stayer.

Form: 437-011

(5)

Depardieu⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Levi Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: F Brennan| OR: 50

100/1

Showed his only form when sixth at Dundalk (1m) two starts back but disappointed when prominent in the betting for a claimer here (1m½f) and never threatened on stable debut at Chelmsford. Others preferred.

Form: 00867-4

Non-Runners

(6)

Adamaris⁴⁰

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: G O'Leary J: B A Curtis

Forecasts

Dazzling Darren (4/6), Adamaris (11/4), Cottonopolis (9/2), Mr Shady (5/1), Beggarman (16/1), Striking Approach (16/1), Depardieu (100/1)

The two Irish raiders look the most likely winners here with preference for ADAMARIS who could prove well handicapped if appreciating this longer trip which his latest run suggested he would. Hat-trick seeking Dazzling Darren is a big danger despite a 4lb hike although he can pull very hard. Mark Johnston horses going up in trip are always feared and after two placed efforts in 1m2f handicaps Cottonopolis is far from out of this if he as is traditional improves for the longer distance.