Timeform UK SmartPlays: Friday January 3

Recent C&D scorer Tatting is in the form of his life at present and should launch a bold bid in the one-mile handicap at 13:00. By Street Cry, Tatting is bred to appreciate fibresand, and he produced a career-best performance when defeating Kung Hei Fat Choy, Chrissycross and a host of other Southwell stalwarts in a competitive heat three weeks ago. A 3 lb rise for that success looks more than fair and Tatting could yet have more to offer on this surface. He looks sure to give a good account and is worth backing this afternoon.

Michael Appleby's string are in fine form at the moment and the trainer can enhance his excellent record at Southwell with Bitaphon in the Selling Handicap at 13:30. Bitaphon won twice at this venue last year, bringing his overall course tally to three, and all of those successes have been achieved at this seven-furlong trip. He was a creditable runner-up over one mile here last time, so is in good form at present, and the drop back in trip to seven furlongs won't pose any problems. He is a solid proposition and can bounce back to winning ways under optimum conditions.

Pick A Little justified strong market support at Wolverhampton last week and, with the return to fibresand unlikely to pose a problem (2-2 on the surface), he is expected to win the concluding race on the Southwell card (15:30). Pick A Little had dropped a long way in the weights due to a string of lacklustre efforts, but it was encouraging to see that he was gambled on at Wolverhampton, indicating a better performance was expected, and, clearly back in good heart, Pick A Little can defy a penalty and capitalise on this lowly mark.

Timeform UK SmartPlays:
All at Southwell

Back Tatting @ 3.185/40 in the 13:00
Back Bitaphon @ 2.89/5 in the 13:30
Back Pick A Little @ 2.8815/8 in the 15:30