Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday April 26

Until the new, all-jumps format of this card becomes truly established you feel that a few of the races will have the air of an afterthought. The inaugural Oaksey Chase (14:40) fits into that category. The four that matter all ran at Aintree, with varying degrees of success: Rolling Aces was second in a substandard Melling Chase; Gullinbursti managed another creditable effort in handicap company; Menorah didn't finish too far behind in the Bowl. Ostensibly Hunt Ball fared worst, pulled up in the Grand National, but his lasting in contention for the best part of four miles didn't go unnoticed. Nor should it be ignored, as he was never going to stay.

To shape as though reasonably handicapped off 158 is probably enough evidence to make you the likeliest winner of this race. Yet Hunt Ball has even more to offer: the time before he was a close-up fourth in the Ryanair, confirming beyond doubt that his high-class ability remains intact. Of this field only Menorah has ever shared that level of talent, so to have Hunt Ball available at above 3.02/1 is a gift.

The Celebration Chase (15:15) is an old friend, especially for Sire de Grugy who launched his own good ship from the race last year. He'll win it again, at a short price. There are seven more runners at the time of writing, giving us three places to aim at, and with that considered a place bet on Pepite Rose could be worthwhile. There are valid reasons to treat her Newbury win with caution, though she suggested it wasn't complete flattery in the Melling Chase subsequently and as such comes here with as good a chance as any on form, the favourite excepted. Claret Cloak is the other to consider, though he'll need to up his game again to concede weight to an on-song Pepite Rose and you feel that big-field handicaps will always be more of his scene than the likes of this.

To win the Grand National and Sandown Park Gold Cup (15:50) in the same season is hardly unbroken ground for a trainer, but to do it with just 12 boxes at your disposal would definitely be a significant achievement. Richard Newland has the National in hand of course and trains a live chance in this race. Ardkilly Witness is somewhat atypical of Newland horses, in that he's been a gradual improver through his career where most of his stablemates' progress is more staccato. He, like Bally Legend and Bury Parade, ran in the Betbright Chase, suffering the same interference as the second-named and eventual runner-up but not getting the same credit; at least at the time. 

Ardkilly Witness then won again in a novice at Market Rasen, putting up a performance that suggested he's still on the up. Returning to handicaps from the same mark as at Kempton, Ardkilly Witness makes more appeal than his re-opposing rivals, Bally Legend having run twice since without success and Bury Parade's stamina for 29 furlongs in quite serious doubt.

Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Sandown

Back Hunt Ball in the 14:40
Back Pepite Rose to place in the 15:15
Back Ardkilly Witness win & place in the 15:50