Timeform UK SmartPlays: Monday August 12

Kashmir Peak created a good impression as a juvenile hurdler last season and he showed enough on his recent Flat return to suggest that he should be highly competitive in the ten-furlong handicap (17:00) at Ayr this afternoon. Kashmir Peak finished second over one and a half miles at Chester eight days ago, travelling well for much of the way, and it would be little surprise were this drop in trip to prove an advantage for John Quinn's charge. He remains well treated in this sphere and, provided he doesn't find the run coming too soon, should go close.

Richard Hughes dominated proceedings at Windsor on Sunday, riding five winners and a second from six mounts, and Rising Dawn could provide the in-form rider with another winner in the nursery at 19:10. Rising Dawn has failed to hit the frame in his three-start career, but he has progressed steadily with each run and his latest effort, when sixth at Sandown, hinted that he could yet be capable of better. Held up well off the pace, Rising Dawn made eyecatching late headway, never looking like getting to the leaders but shaping well with his handicap career in mind. Rising Dawn starts life in handicaps on a fair mark and, with the step up to an extended mile promising to suit, he should be backed this evening. 

Regal Silk was an authoritative winner over C&D last time, justifying favouritism on her return from a 13-week absence, and she holds strong claims of scoring on her handicap debut in the 19:40 at Windsor. The lightly-raced daughter of Pivotal showed plenty of promise on her sole start as a two-year-old and her reappearance effort as a three-year-old, when finishing runner-up at Lingfield, was also an encouraging display. A below-par effort at Sandown quickly followed, but her victory here last month indicated that she was back on the right track and, having had just the four starts, she remains with the potential to improve.

Timeform SmartPlays:
Back Kashmir Peak @ 2.8815/8 in the 17:00 at Ayr
Back Rising Dawn @ 2.3211/8 in the 19:10 at Windsor
Back Regal Silk @ 2.546/4 in the 19:40 at Windsor

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