Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday May 18

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Hillstar has gone up 9 lb for finishing second on his seasonal reappearance in a strong handicap at Newmarket, but that may not be enough to stop the unexposed three-year-old and he can claim the 15:15 at Newbury. Having created a strong impression on his second and final start as a juvenile, the well-bred Hillstar seemed to appreciate the step up to ten furlongs as he shaped nicely on his return, finding only the enterprisingly-ridden and similarly unexposed Soviet Rock too strong. The form of that performance has been boosted subsequently and there is a fair chance that Hillstar will be plying his trade in group company by the end of the season.

Colonel Mak has plummeted in the weights and may be able to take advantage of the assessor's leniency in the 15:25 at Thirsk. It is true to say that Colonel Mak hasn't been at his best so far this season but he is starting to look dangerously well handicapped and there was plenty to like about his performance on his penultimate outing at Pontefract. He moved for much of the way like a horse that retained plenty of ability and, although he was disappointing at Ascot, it is worth taking a chance on David Barron's six-year-old.

Our final SmartPlay runs at Doncaster this evening as we select Cape Peron to make a winning handicap debut (19:00). Henry Candy's three-year-old shaped with promise on his sole start here as a juvenile, finishing third over an inadequate six furlongs, but he put up a much-improved display upped to a mile at Newbury on his return, producing a telling turn of foot late on to run down some useful rivals. He looks open to plenty of progress and should be backed to score again.

Timeform UK SmartPlays:
Back Hillstar @ 2.111/10 in the 15:15 at Newbury
Back Colonel Mak @ 9.617/2 in the 15:25 at Thirsk
Back Cape Peron @ 2.915/8 in the 19:00 at Doncaster

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