Timeform UK SmartPlays / Timeform / 17 March 2012 /

After a busy week at Cheltenham, the Timeform SmartPlays bring you their three best bets for Saturday afternoon...

Timeform Betfair Racing Club horse Red Merlin looked very much on the upgrade towards the back end of last season and looks to have been found a good opportunity to continue the winning sequence on his belated seasonal reappearance at Newcastle (14:35) . Red Merlin racked up three consecutive victories in two mile hurdles last season while shaping as if capable of better, and the form of the latest of those has worked out particularly well in his absence, with several having since gone on to record improved performances. Red Merlin looks potentially 'well in' on his handicap bow and, whilst he has an in-form rival in the shape of Stormy Weather to deal with, he is definitely one to keep on side.

The second selection comes at Uttoxeter, in the novice handicap chase at 15:55, where Glen's Boy looks a solid bet. Glen's Boy looked to have a bit in hand when landing a similar event at Newbury last time, and runner-up Ikorodu Road has since gone on to post a victory in the Grimthorpe Chase. That was just Glen's Boy's third start over fences and he impressed with the way in which he jumped and travelled before responding well to Timmy Murphy's urgings in the closing stages to just get up. Given his lightly-raced profile, it seems obvious to state that more can be expected from this eight-year-old gelding, and Glen's Boy should be right in the shake-up in what admittedly looks a competitive race.

Dialogue looks a good bet at Wolverhampton this evening (19:50) even at odds on, given he is considered to be 16 lb in advance of his nearest rival based on Timeform ratings. Dialogue is four from five on polytack and produced his very best on his penultimate start in claiming company, cruising through the race and quickly putting things to bed in the final furlong. He disappointed on his one and only subsequent start, but he should be capable of putting that display behind him (reportedly bled from the nose) and, with question marks over some of his rivals, Dialogue can definitely continue his good record on the surface.

Timeform SmartPlays

Back Red Merlin @ [3.35] in the 14:35 at Newcastle
Back Glen's Boy @ [3.45] in the 15:55 at Uttoxeter
Back Dialogue @ [1.90] in the 19:50 at Wolverhampton
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