Timeform UK SmartPlays: Monday May 5

We kick off proceedings with a five-furlong handicap from Beverley (14:40) and following the withdrawal of overnight favourite Scarborough the task looks to have got a little easier for Distant Past. He was well backed for a five-furlong maiden at Wolverhampton in November and ran out a ready winner, and was not disgraced on his turf debut at Thirsk when the ground might have had a little too much cut in it. He remains open to improvement, shaping on both career starts thus far as if he's capable of a big performance, and if he improves for the quicker racing surface this afternoon he might just show it.

We head to Warwick for the next contest under consideration, a five-furlong sprint (15:05) in which Where The Boys Are looks to have found a good opportunity to return to the winners enclosure. She ran her best race in maiden company when runner-up at Ripon last July and although she hasn't progressed markedly from that level of form, she looked the type who would land a race at some stage, which is more than can be said for most of the opposing field today. She is on a competitive mark and if the ground dries up a touch it will certainly be in her favour; Clear Focus and Narborough might prove best of the rest but in truth it looks a weak contest and one the selection has well within her grasp to win. 

Our final bet of the day comes in a valuable fillies' handicap over a mile at Windsor (16:10) in which the vote goes to Trixie Malone. As long as the the ground doesn't dry out significantly she should prove a tough nut to crack and has showed a much improved level of form since switching to handicaps, successful at Newcastle over seven furlongs and Doncaster over a mile last month. She's only been shouldered with a 4 lb rise for her latest victory which looks fair at the very least and given Karl Burke's horses are in such tremendous form, you can be sure of a very bold hat-trick bid. Fashion Line had a luckless run over seven furlongs at Lingfield last time and has a live chance back up in trip, but the selection is in the form of her life currently and has an excellent chance to win again.

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back Distant Past @ 5.59/2 in the 14:40 at Beverley
Back Where The Boys Are @ 4.216/5 in the 15:05 at Warwick
Back Trixie Malone @ 2.6413/8 in the 16:10 at Windsor