Timeform UK SmartPlays: Wednesday January 25

Timeform UK SmartPlays / Timeform / 25 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Paul Hanagan will be aboard today's best bet.

"Aquarian Spirit returned from a three-month absence to make his all-weather debut a winning one..."

Three all-weather SmartPlays for Wednesday, with the best bet coming at Lingfield...

The Michael Attwater-trained Salient (14:20) gets today's SmartPlays under way this afternoon, with hopes high that a drop in grade can see the eight-year-old get his head in front for the first time since July last year. Salient shaped particularly well at the track on New Year's Eve, far from discredited in finishing fourth to Novellen Lad in what looked a competitive event. His last win came off a mark of 69, just 1 lb lower than today's, and he has won four times off higher marks in the past (including twice at the course). Salient often races prominently and, with little competition up front, ought to be able to adopt those tactics once more despite the wide draw, and he is a confident selection to get this column off to a winning start.

Lingfield's following contest, the 14:50, sees Aquarian Spirit bid to land his second course and distance win this month. The five year-old returned from a three-month absence to make his all-weather debut a winning one 19 days ago, racing prominently and being seen to best effect when beating Hereford Boy in a 6-runner race. Aquarian Spirit has been raised just 1 lb for that short-head success and, with an uncontested lead likely, he is our bet of the day.

Kempton's 17:40 is an interesting event, in which last time out winners Querido and Daniel Thomas merit respect, but a chance can be taken with Sir Ike on the back of an encouraging run at Lingfield last time. He finished third that day, running off what was then a career-low mark, but he has since been dropped a further 1 lb, which leaves him dangerously well handicapped (won at Folkestone in 2009 off 20 lb higher). His usual running style is to be held-up, as illustrated by his Timeform in-play symbols 'sh' (started slowly, held-up), but with only one horse in the field that tends to race prominently, jockey Luke Morris may be tempted to bounce Sir Ike out to dispute the lead, making the most of a good berth in stall one. He clearly comes with risks attached but he is likely to return a rewarding price.

Timeform SmartPlays

Back Salient @ [9.6] in the 14:20 at Lingfield
Back Aquarian Spirit @ [4.3] in the 14:50 at Lingfield
Back Sir Ike @ [8.2] in the 17:40 at Kempton

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