Timeform UK SmartPlays: Sunday 18 August

Timeform
17 August 2019

There is Flat racing from Pontefract on Sunday

Join

Twitter

Facebook

View the Betslip

Timeform pick out their best back, lay and smart stat bets on Sunday...

"...fancied to take care of some interesting three-year-olds in the first-time visor (replacing usual cheekpieces), with no finer jockey for the job than Silvestre de Sousa..."

Timeform on Perfection

Back
Hereby - 14:30 Pontefract

Hereby showed improved form to regain the winning thread on her handicap debut at Chester two weeks ago, value for extra on the day, too, having been forced to wait for a gap on the home turn, ultimately doing well to get the verdict by a head. The runner-up gave that form a boost when going one better next-time-out, and, 2 lb clear of the field on weight-adjusted ratings here, it will be disappointing if the progressive Hereby isn't thereabouts in her follow-up bid, with the stiff uphill finish at Pontefract - putting the emphasis firmly on stamina - likely to see her in an even better light (should stay even further when the situation demands it).

Lay
Lil Rockerfeller - 15:20 Southwell

There are few more popular National Hunt horses in training than Lil Rockerfeller, but he looks opposable on his return to fences this afternoon. Admittedly, he showed smart form when winning three of his five starts in this sphere last season, but his jumping was frequently a cause for concern, notably when making several mistakes at Ascot in February, and there has to be a concern that this test will prove too sharp for him anyway. Indeed, Neil King's charge has a tendency to race in snatches, even over longer trips, and he simply cannot afford to get too far back over two and a half miles on ground that is currently good to firm in places.

Smart Stat
Perfection - 15:30 Pontefract

23% - Silvestre de Sousa's strike rate at Pontefract

Perfection has filled the runner-up spot on her last two starts in Group 3 company, most recently when losing out by just a neck in the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood, leading briefly inside the final furlong before Billesdon Brook swept by. That form is amongst the best on offer now back at listed level, and, equally effective over six furlongs, Perfection is fancied to take care of some interesting three-year-olds in the first-time visor (replacing usual cheekpieces), with no finer jockey for the job than Silvestre de Sousa, who rides Pontefract arguably as well as anyone.