Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday January 12

We get underway in the 13:40 at Wetherby, with the Micky Hammond-trained Pertuis expected to go one better than over C&D last month. The seven-year-old caught the eye in no uncertain terms that day, travelling well in rear but finding himself with plenty to do three flights from home before staying on without being able to trouble the winner. The likelihood is that he would have benefitted from stronger handling and he ought to receive that today with Jason Maguire taking over in the saddle from Joe Colliver, making Pertuis well worth betting upon here.
 
We now take a trip onto the all-weather at Lingfield, with the 15:10 coming under particularly close inspection. The Peter Hedger-trained Kaafel made it onto the Sandstormers list following his win over C&D last month on what represented his polytrack debut and it also marked the four-year-old's best effort yet, travelling well in touch before leading at the post. It is not out of the question that Kaafel could yet pull out a small amount of further improvement, particularly as his style of racing is well suited to the manner in which all-weather affairs tend to unfold, and he can defy a 4 lb rise in the weights incurred for his latest triumph. 

This is a fascinating renewal of Warwick's Classic Chase, with Restless Harry, Bradley and Godsmejudge all making some sort of appeal but the Charlie Longsdon-trained Pete The Feat is improving at a rate of knots and has to be supported in his quest to land the six-timer. The nine-year-old has taken his form to a whole new level since joining this yard in the summer, putting in some excellent rounds of jumping and treating all those put before him with absolute disdain. He has been raised 9 lb for his latest success, at Newbury last month, but the suspicion is that he remains ahead of the handicapper and can prove that point with success here. 

Timeform SmartPlays
Back Pertuis @ 3.5551/20 in the 13:40 at Wetherby
Back Kaafel @ 3.613/5 in the 15:10 at Lingfield
Back Pete The Feat @ 4.84/1 in the 15:35 at Warwick

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