Timeform UK SmartPlays: Wednesday February 1

Timeform UK SmartPlays / Timeform / 01 February 2012 / 1 Comments

Jim Crowley: Rides King of Windsor

"King of Windsor looks a very intriguing runner this evening."

With Ludlow and Leicester both falling by the wayside, today's three SmartPlays comes from Newcastle and Kempton...

The combination of fledgling Northumberland trainer Susan Corbett and amateur rider Jakub Kocman may not be overly familiar to most punters, but their Definite Appeal makes just that in Newcastle's three-mile handicap chase due off at 15:50. Definite Appeal is responsible for providing the handler with her only success so far (from just 12 runners), stripping fitter for his return from seven months off when producing a career-best to land a distance event at Musselburgh (good to soft, second won next time) and a repeat of that will see the Timeform top-rated nine-year-old right in the mix today. Definite Appeal was running respectably when blundering and unseating four out at Catterick last time and is given a chance to get back on track at generous odds.

Ex- Flat jockey Keith Dalgleish has impressed greatly in his training career so far, returning other yard's cast-offs to their former glories and in King of Windsor (17:20) he looks to have another with whom he can repeat the feat. Having not won since landing an Ayr maiden in June 2010, King of Windsor was purchased by his new trainer out of Ralph Beckett's yard for 11,000gns at Brightwells' Ascot Bloodstock Sale in December. However, since that solitary victory the horse has run to a figure as good, if not better, on five of his nine starts yet has slipped from a peak BHA rating of 89 to just 75. With him having proved ten furlongs on polytrack holds no fears with a best recent effort when third to Emerald Wilderness (won both starts since) 49 days ago, King of Windsor looks a very intriguing runner this evening.

William Jarvis and young jockey William Carson both enjoyed a good 2011 and the pair, who have a 17% strike rate at a level-stakes profit of +3.00 when combining, can do the business again with Berlusca (18:50), the second of today's bets at Kempton. Having won a six-furlong nursery at Wolverhampton in October, Berlusca has made the frame on all starts since, including when fourth of 10 to Gabrial's Bounty in a handicap (third finished runner-up next outing) at the track last time. With the step up to seven furlongs promising to suit, strong colt Berlusca can defy his official mark of 66 from a plum draw in stall 3.

Timeform SmartPlays

Back Definite Appeal @ [7.2] in the 15:50 at Newcastle
Back King of Windsor @ [4.6] in the 17:20 at Kempton
Back Berlusca @ [4.7] in the 18:50 at Kempton

Comments (1)

1. paul preston | 01 February 2012

   Very intersting read.