Timeform UK SmartPlays: Monday July 1

With no recognised pacesetter in the field Pontefract's 16:00 looks to be a fairly trappy contest but it is worth siding with Rivas Rhapsody, who has finished out of the first two just once in her career to date. The five-year-old scored on four occasions when trained by Ian Wood but stepped up on that form on her second start for Rae Guest, beaten just three-quarters of a length by the reopposing Fanrouge at Warwick last month, and she looks to hold solid claims of reversing the form now that she isn't forced to concede weight to that rival. Perfect Blossom is worth a second look as she has slipped to a workable mark but she would be more at home over a furlong less so the vote goes to Rivas Rhapsody. 

The Rod Millman-trained Astrum looks sure to be suited by this step up in trip but he is creeping up the weights so we're going to side with Danehill Flyer, trained by Philip Kirby. The three-year-old improved for the step up to 11 furlongs when second at Southwell in May and shaped better than the bare result when upped to 14 furlongs at Redcar last time, racing freely and making a big move with around half a mile still to race. This intermediary distance could prove to be ideal and he is taken to finally come good on the promise he has displayed since being switched to handicaps. 

Opus Maximus looked to lose his way for Conor Dore last year but there was some market support for him on his first start since rejoining the yard of Jennie Candlish when finishing down the field at Leicester last month. That run was after an 8 month absence and he duly improved for it when second to Beauchamp Xerxes over C&D last time, no match for the winner but given far too much to do, and were he to step up again he seems sure to go close racing from an attractive mark.

Timeform SmartPlays:
Back Rivas Rhapsody in the 16:00 at Pontefract
Back Danehill Flyer in the 16:30 at Pontefract
Back Opus Maximus in the 17:15 at Wolverhampton

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