Timeform UK SmartPlays: Monday July 9

Head Space is a horse on an upward curve, having won two of his last three starts, and he should be thereabouts once again this afternoon (14:30, Ayr). The way he travelled over course and distance last time suggested he was a horse well in advance of his mark. Head Space is duly top-rated for this afternoon's contest and he should go well with conditions in his favour. His hold-up tactics sometimes mean that a fast early pace is required, but that looks rather likely in this race.

Al Muheer was only beaten by the narrowest of margins on Saturday at Haydock and a reproduction of that level of form should definitely be enough for him to go close again in what looks a competitive handicap at Ripon (19:50) this evening. Al Muheer tends to take his races well, so the two-day break hopefully won't pose the seven-year-old too many problems, and he should be capable of adding to the list of recent successes for his in-form stable. The soft ground on offer is another positive for Ruth Carr's gelding and he looks bet of the day material with James Sullivan in the saddle.

Horatio Carter has been in good form recently and he looks capable of the victory in a race (21:20, Ripon) which arguably lacks depth. Horatio Carter has finished second in each of his last two starts and, if he is capable of producing that form again, he should have enough to land the victory in a race in for which he is Timeform top-rated. David O'Meara has been in relatively strong form in recent weeks and Horatio Carter can keep the yard's strike-rate ticking over. Izzet and Wiseman's Diamond look the two most likely dangers.

Timeform SmartPlays
Back Head Space @ 4.216/5 in the 14:30 at Ayr
Back Al Muheer @ 4.3100/30 in the 19:50 at Ripon
Back Horatio Carter @ 4.47/2 in the 21:20 at Ripon
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