Timeform UK SmartPlays: Monday January 30

Timeform UK SmartPlays / Timeform / 30 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Campbell Gillies: Rides Prince Blackthorn

"Prince Blackthorn shaped much better than the result and his supporters can get their money back today."

There were four winners (at Betfair SPs of [8.8], [8.2], [4.3] and [4.2]) from six selections for Timeform's SmartPlays over the weekend and here are the three bets most likely to continue the trend today...

Gary Moore and son Jamie top the leading trainer and jockeys' tables respectively at Plumpton since 2007/8 and the pair can combine for another course success with handicap debutant Ministry in the two-mile hurdle at 15:50. Having shaped with promise on his first and third starts in juvenile hurdles, it isn't surprising that Ministry's shrewd handler is pitching him in against seasoned performers as not only is his opening BHA rating of 100 potentially lenient (fair winner on the Flat), the colt also receives a hefty weight concession (11 lb) from his elders for being a four-year-old. Ministry doesn't have much to find with his superiors on Timeform ratings and, as one of only two in the race judged open to improvement, he can overtake the likes of Marju King and Just Beware and claim victory.

Willie Amos saddled two gambled-on runners at Wetherby a week ago and, after What A Dream had been sunk close home in the second race on the card, Prince Blackthorn (16:00) couldn't provide a fillip two and a half hours later when a below-par fifth in the closing handicap hurdle. However, making his first start for the yard/handicap bow that day, the six-year-old shaped much better than the result (still travelling best upsides three out but not getting home) and his supporters can get their money back today now he's dropped back half a mile to the minimum trip. Campbell Gillies taking over for the first time is a big positive as he shows a whopping level-stakes profit of +116.17 when teaming up with the Scottish Borders trainer.

Five-runner bumpers in which the only one to have run won first time out are not normally sound betting mediums, but an exception can be made with Hurraboru in the 16:30 at Ayr today. Donald McCain's Hurraboru made a winning debut in a heavy-ground event at Uttoxeter on New Year's Eve, however, he looked far from straightforward in the process, somewhat unsurprising when you consider his dam is a half-sister to increasingly-temperamental stablemate Wymott (has Timeform 'squiggle'). Relying on four newcomers to provide stiff opposition isn't ideal but they are from respected yards and such was Hurraboru's ungainliness (carried head high/jinked and hung right under pressure) on that first start that he strikes as prime lay material at current prices.

Timeform SmartPlays

Back Ministry @ [5.3] in the 15:50 at Plumpton
Back Prince Blackthorn @ [3.35] in the 16:00 at Ayr
Lay Hurraboru @ [2.06] in the 16:30 at Ayr

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