Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday January 19

Although this might have been only the third or fourth meeting of the day had all survived, this is a good meeting in its own right, with even the opening race (13:45), though just a 0-70 fillies' handicap, looking competitive for one of its type. One that stands out in the eight-strong field is Big Sylv, who improved to win for the first time at Wolverhampton in December before running into a sharply progressive rival there last time. Big Sylv certainly lost no caste in defeat that day, finishing clear of the rest, and now just 1 lb higher looks set to do further damage. The drop back in trip should be no big concern, as she's travelled well enough on recent starts to suggest she'll have the requisite speed.

In a similar vein to Big Sylv is Light From Mars, who runs in the very next race and is our second SmartPlays. His last two form figures also read 1-2, the two coming behind one that's on the up, but perhaps more significant in Light From Mars' case is that we know for a fact that he has better in him. It was less than two years ago that he showed near-smart form to land the Spring Cup at Newbury and this winter has seen him rejuvenated to a large extent,  with him finishing in the frame on each of his last seven starts. Another resurgent sort in Toga Tiger will make things interesting, though he's a candidate to bounce and would almost certainly be seen to better effect over a mile.

The all-weather season is a chance for trainers with only second-tier ammunition at their disposal to come to the fore, and that's exactly what Alan McCabe tends to do, this winter being no different. McCabe runners have almost all been running well, including heretofore strugglers such as Sextons House, fourth over seven furlongs here on Wednesday and now entered over six in the last race (17:05). He first ran for McCabe in Ocotber, off a BHA mark of 69, but has rapidly fallen in the weights, now rated just 52. That's a terrifically lenient mark on Sextons House's best form, something he looks ready to capitalise on judging by his eye-catching fourth (poorly placed) during the week, so he's very much one to take a chance on for his in-form yard. 

Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Kempton
Back Big Sylv @ 4.94/1 in the 13:45
Back Light From Mars @ 5.04/1 in the 14:20
Back Sextons House @ 4.67/2 in the 17:05