Timeform UK SmartPlays: Friday March 1

Newbury's handicap chase at 14:55 is an intriguing contest, with the Phillip Hobbs-trained Keki Buku undoubtedly well handicapped and Silver Roque of definite interest following his third-placed effort at Cheltenham when last seen in November, however at the prices it could be worth taking a chance on Fiftyonefiftyone, trained by Oliver Sherwood, in the hope that he can finally capitalise on a plummeting mark. The nine-year-old was a fairly useful chase in 2011 and although his season has so far been disappointing, including when failing to build upon a more promising effort in a jumpers bumper when finishing sixth at Doncaster last time, he is on too good a mark to ignore and could well be sparked back to life with cheekpieces in place for the first time. 

Brave Spartacus has improved in leaps and bounds this term, winning on three occasions at Catterick, and he is taken to return to the winners' enclosure at Doncaster this afternoon having shaped better than the bare result on his most recent start last month. The seven-year-old shaped better than the bare result that day in a better race than this contest, with his customary front-running tactics being overdone, and he certainly remains of interest racing from a BHA mark of 130 with there not looking to be all that much competition for the lead here. 

We return to Newbury for our final selection, this time in the 16:00, in which Flaming Charmer and Thunder Sheik are likely to prove popular. The pair are closely matched judged upon their running at Warwick in January but it could instead be worth siding with Explained, who almost certainly has more to offer on just his second start in handicaps. The six-year-old's only defeat in his first four starts came at the hands of subsequent Grade 2 winner Coneygree and he shaped much better than the distances beaten would indicate at Aintree last time, travelling better than most prior to weakening at the finish. The drop in trip faced today could work the oracle, and he should go close in his attempt to land the spoils. 

Timeform SmartPlays:
Back Fiftyonefiftyone @ 10.09/1 in the 14:55 at Newbury
Back Brave Spartacus @ 4.57/2 in the 15:50 at Doncaster
Back Explained @ 5.69/2 in the 16:00 at Newbury

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