Wetherby is our first stop. It's a cracking card overall, but the likes of Oscar Rock are hardly lip-smacking opportunities for a bet, so we look to the handicap hurdle at 13:40 for SmartPlay number one. The selection is Pippa Greene, who was well backed returning from a lengthy absence at Bangor last time. She came up just short (beaten less than 10 lengths into fourth) on the day, but that was excusable given she pulled fiercely and seemed to be just a mite shy of peak fitness. There should be no such worries today and with Pippa Greene likely to have some improvement left in her for the Henderson yard, she rates as the most probable winner of this race.
We're going to Uttoxeter next, also bypassing their best-quality race of the day (a maiden chase featuring Colour Squadron and Raya Star) in search of the best-value bets. Vinnieslittle Lamb(14:55) is our idea of the strongest in that category. She's a stoutly-bred mare who has been hiked up to three miles for her handicap debut. That in itself is enough to make Vinnieslittle Lamb interesting, though what she's achieved up to now aids her cause, too. She was a clear second-best to Little Pop (from the in-form Twiston-Davies yard) over two miles here earlier in the month, but shaped for all the world as though longer trips will suit. Whether she needed fast-tracking to three miles is debateable, but it's probably moot as she's very likely to stay and is surely better than her opening BHA mark of 105.
Returning to West Yorkshire, we will wait until the last race at Wetherby (15:55) for our final SmartPlay. The improving Silver Dragon is hardly difficult to spot in this race, but his recent upturn in form means he's evidently been difficult to price up, to the extent that we think the market does him something of an injustice. Silver Dragon's hurdling has been improving as well as his form, while his win at Uttoxeter last time surely warranted a rise of more than 7 lb in the weights. That day, he pulled clear with another who looked of interest beforehand, beating even that one fairly comfortably. Today's longer trip shouldn't be an issue, so Silver Dragon has no excuse for not putting in another strong bid.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
Back Pippa Greene @ 4.94/1 in the 13:40 Wetherby
Back Vinnieslittle Lamb @ 3.814/5 in the 14:55 Uttoxeter
Back Silver Dragon @ 4.3100/30 in the 15:55 Wetherby
