Timeform UK SmartPlays: Monday April 14

There's a Class 2 handicap at Pontefract (15:10) and that's where we will begin. A number of interesting four-year-olds line up against older horses of varying interest. One of the more appealing to us, if not the market, is Fast Shot. This six-year-old hasn't won in almost two years, though that's a levy on his consistency more than anything else. The Ayr Silver Cup was one of the races that Fast Shot came close in last year, from a mark just 1 lb lower, while today promising apprentice Rachel Richardson takes over in the saddle. Fast Shot therefore makes more appeal from a ratings perspective than you might think and, so long as he comes on for his recent reappearance, can put up a strong showing.

We nip to Hexham next for a bet in their 15:30. It's a race that's quite full on numbers but, unsurprisingly for a 0-100, slight on competitiveness. All the more reason to be positive about Definite Appeal, who was given plenty of slack by the handicapper having missed a year prior to his reappearance a few weeks back. That day he finished second at Newcastle, likely to have pushed the winner closer but for ploughing through the thirteenth, while his young jockey wasn't seen to best effect either. The fact James Corbett retains the ride is a niggle as Definite Appeal has always taken plenty of riding, though Hexham ought to suit him at least as well as Newcastle and it's simply impossible to ignore him given his mark and the signs that he retains his ability.

From Hexham to Pontefract; from three-mile chasing to sprinting. The closer at Pontefract (16:40) is a fairly humdrum five-furlong handicap and it could pay to take a chance. The chosen one is Dark Lane, one of a few in the race that come here from all-weather campaigns. He won off 63 at the start of the all-weather season but has been a bit quiet of late, slipping to a career-low mark of 60 for today's race. Dark Lane won on his first turf starts in 2013 and 2011, so the change seems to do him some good, while his teaming up with Graham Lee after being ridden by apprentices on his last two starts is another plus.

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back Fast Shot @ 11.521/2 in the 15:10 Pontefract
Back Definite Appeal @ 6.86/1 in the 15:30 Hexham
Back Dark Lane  @ 8.27/1 in the 16:40 Pontefract