Timeform UK SmartPlays: Friday August 17

Pythagorean (14:20) will take on the straight seven furlongs at Newbury again, after finishing six and a half lengths third to Montiridge last month on debut. That race has produced four winners since, and on the back of her experience Pythagorean, who holds Group 1 entries, should improve to make it four, after showing some greeness early on in the race. Good ground is the only marked difference today, having been heavy last time, though the fact Pythagorean's dam was fully effective on good to firm going suggests that won't be an issue. It also looks significant that Pythagorean has been aimed at this particular race, one the same connections won last year with Top Offer, then seen as a top-class prospect.

For our second SmartPlay, we'll have Discression (15:35 Newcastle), another runner taking on the same C&D as last time out. He won impressively by two lengths on that occasion, taking on seven furlongs for the first time in a handicap. He is still relatively unexposed over this distance and should be able to score again under a penalty. Graham Lee will be hoping to keep up his excellent record at the track, where he lands a win an average of every four rides and, back on Discression, he looks to have his best chance of the day.

Back at Newbury, Byton (16:30) is expected to make the most of her handicap debut off a BHA mark of 74. This seems achievable on the back of her win at Folkestone over this distance last time, when not all out to finish a length and a half clear of Al Janadeirya. She has improved for each run so far and with winners coming from her last race, her form looks solid. Delft looks like her main competition, but Jeremy Noseda's filly is stepping up in trip and Byton should be able to make it a test from the front to take top honours.

Timeform SmartPlays
Back Pythagorean @ 3.412/5 in the 14:20 at Newbury
Back Discression @ 4.67/2 in the 15:35 at Newcastle
Back Byton @ 3.4549/20 in the 16:30 at Newbury