Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday 12 July

We kick off proceedings with the feature race of York's two day meeting, the John Smith's Cup over an extended ten furlongs (14:55) and as always it looks a highly competitive contest. The likes of Bold Sniper and Tarikhi are high on the shortlist but the vote goes to Clever Cookie. He's a Grade 2 winning hurdler but has made great strides since being switched to the flat, landing a C&D handicap at the Dante meeting and dead-heating in a listed event over half a mile further here last time. He's three from three since switching codes and still looks ahead of the handicapper, and is taken to maintain his unbeaten record in this sphere. 

We head to Ascot next for what looks a cracking three-year-old handicap over a mile-and-a-half (16:15) which is full of progressive sorts. Wrangler is definitely capable of better than he's shown in his last few starts and rates as a danger but Oasis Fantasy is hard to ignore, despite being 3 lb out of the weights. He won a Windsor maiden as a juvenile and has quickly picked up the progressive thread this year, shaping well at Brighton in May before winning in striking fashion at Goodwood last time. He was going away at the finish and is value for more than the two-length winning margin, and although this represents by far his toughest task to date he's on the upgrade fast and may well surprise a few. 

We head to Salisbury for our final bet of the day, which comes in a competitive fillies' handicap over ten furlongs (21:00) and Tearless looks the one to keep on side. She scored well on debut at Goodwood last month despite a hefty weight-for-age allowance and given her pedigree and connections, a significant degree of improvement looks on the cards. She shouldn't have a problem with the extra distance this evening and she could prove a good bit better than her opening mark of 90 now sent handicapping. Running Deer is respected as she's at the top of her game at present, but the selection might be too progressive for her rivals.

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back Clever Cookie in the 14:55 at York
Back Oasis Fantasy in the 16:15 at Ascot
Back Tearless in the 21:00 at Salisbury