Appleby’s Spirit to shine through

RACING: Nine-year-old will prove much sharper for recent runs

THAT IS THE SPIRIT looks to be running into form ahead of the Bombardier “March To Your Own Drum” Handicap at Wolverhampton.

Now a nine-year-old, That Is The Spirit probably holds few secrets and is undoubtedly some way below the form that saw him strike in Listed company in both 2014 and 2015.

However, he remains a useful tool for Michael Appleby in just this sort of event, and with two recent runs under his belt, is now firing on all cylinders.

He returned from a 151-day break last month, recording a close-up fifth at the first time of asking before stepping up again a week later to finish a narrow second at Kempton.

That Is The Spirit lines up off a mark of 79 here, his lowest perch since he won on his debut for Appleby last June, and he should be right in the mix again.

KYBOSH can make it a double for the Appleby team in the Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap.

He is still a maiden after 11 races, but has been a model of consistency this winter without actually having the cards fall in his favour.

Four thirds in six starts shows Kybosh is capable, albeit at a lowly level, and his current mark of 49 does not look beyond him.

NEVER DARK has hit the bar on each of his two starts to date, but he should at least be well aware of what is required in the Betway Maiden Stakes.

Hailing from a smart sprint family, Never Dark shaped with promise on his first spin at Kempton before slightly disappointing when only second as an odds-on favourite last month.

He came up against what appeared to be a smart rival on that occasion, so he is not one to give up on yet.

SELECTIONS: LUDLOW: 1.45 Archie Brown, 2.15 Paint The Dream, 2.45 Oriental Cross, 3.15 Town Parks, 3.45 Gilka, 4.15 Monbeg Gold, 4.45 King Erik. SOUTHWELL: 1.30 Young Tiger, 2.00 Sur Mer, 2.30 The Eagle’s Nest, 3.00 Lion Tower, 3.30 Glory Of Paris, 4.00 Six Til Twelve, 4.30 Arabian King. WOLVERHAMPTON: 5.05 Foresee, 5.40 Never Dark, 6.10 Tabaahy, 6.40 Kybosh, 7.10 THAT IS THE SPIRIT (NAP), 7.40 Limaro Prospect, 8.10 Grace Plunkett.

DOUBLE: That Is The Spirit and Never Dark.