Timeform UK SmartPlays: Friday 14 February

The 14:15 at Fakenham isn't especially competitive: the morning market appears to be siding with Mistral Reine, who won over C&D just before Christmas. Sensible though that is, it's doubtful that mare has a lot more to come whereas Crookstown remains firmly unexposed after just two starts in handicaps. He won the first, over 21 furlongs at Market Rasen, then was found out for stamina at Uttoxeter just five days later. The test today will only be slightly less strenuous on Fakenham-soft ground, but we're pinning our hopes on a longer break allowing Crookstown to show more: after all, he did shape best at Uttoxeter and comes here rated 2lb lower.

Of the five left in the following 14:45, only three really count. Of those, Elenika is the likeliest winner, though the combination of testing ground and an extended 21 furlongs isn't guaranteed to see him to best effect. Taffy Thomas is proven over this trip and a little further, while he looked back in top form at Market Rasen last time, coming there to win when unseating two out. We know Taffy Thomas is well handicapped (won from 6 lb higher in the summer of 2012) and acts under conditions, which is more than can be said of his chief rivals. 

We have to wait until the evening for SmartPlay number three. Magika (18:35 Wolverhampton) has really got going in the last few months, her only recent blip coming on her first encounter with Southwell's fibresand. She's recorded two wins over this C&D in that time, the more recent being when she came clear with Kashmir Peak who has since run well and now re-opposes. Few others in this race have the same progressive profile and course form as Magika, so she makes sense as the likeliest winner.

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back Crookstown @ 3.39/4 in the 14:15 Fakenham
Back Taffy Thomas @ 3.211/5 in the 14:45 Fakenham
Back Magika @ 4.131/10 in the 18:35 Wolverhampton