We start at Catterick, in their two-mile handicap hurdle at 14:40. Most of the seven-strong field represent pretty much what you'd expect for a race of this type, with the clear exception being the Donald McCain-trained Trend Is My Friend. Only a four-year-old, Trend Is My Friend has made just the two starts over hurdles so far, pulling hard on both occasions in juvenile events. Should he learn to curb his over-enthusiastic ways (which today's less-testing conditions may well help) then there seems to be plenty of juice in Trend Is My Friend's opening BHA mark of 115, even before factoring in his four-year-old allowance.
We stick with Catterick (15:40) for our second SmartPlay, and we stick with Donald McCain, too. His Mount Hope ran in a relatively strong maiden last time, proving no match for winner Chat Room but nonetheless finishing well ahead of the main body of the field. Although a bumper winner, everything about Mount Hope suggests he'll be much better suited by further than two miles, so this step up to 19 furlongs is sure to prove right up his street. Add in the small matter of a lenient starting mark of 112 and Mount Hope probably rates as the standout bet of the day.
Finally, we got to Wolverhampton for SmartPlay number three, coming in the 16:30. The race is over nine and a half furlongs, the same C&D over which Exning Halt won a maiden on his first start for John Quinn last month. That win represented improved form from this Rail Link gelding, even before allowing for the ease of victory, so to see him back in a handicap from a mark 1 lb lower than for his last appearance in such a race is surprising. This is a competitive heat, but the case for Exning Halt is so strong that he's worth a bet at what looks a huge price.
Timeform SmartPlays
Back Trend Is My Friend @ 2.8815/8 in the 14:40 Catterick
Back Mount Hope @ 3.8514/5 in the 15:40 Catterick
Back Exning Halt @ 8.415/2 in the 16:30 Wolverhampton
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