Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday January 26

John's Spirit produced a creditable effort at Sandown last time, chasing home a well-handicapped horse hailing from an in-form stable, and the handicapper has perhaps been a touch generous allowing Jonjo O'Neill's charge to race off the same mark in the 12:40 at Cheltenham. Useful as a hurdler, he has taken well to chasing, showing marked improvement on two initial efforts over fences when thrown back in handicap company at Sandown on his penultimate start. He was upped to three miles at Sandown last time but, while seeing it out well enough, he prove to be at least as effective over this shorter trip and, reunited with AP McCoy, he can continue his progression and land this competitive Timeform-sponsored contest.

In the following race we side with John's Spirit's Sandown conqueror, the Venetia Williams-trained Katenko. An import from France, Katenko shaped with promise on his British debut over the Brush Hurdles at Haydock, showing up well for a long way before fitness told in the closing stages. He was seen in a better light on his next start over fences at Ascot where he forced the pace, largely jumping well, before eventually being overhauled by a progressive type in Wyck Hill. He then followed that up with his best effort yet at Sandown, staying on strongly to register an emphatic win, and he looks set to launch another bold bid on Saturday, despite the handicapper having raised him by 11 lb.

Our final SmartPlay comes in the last race on the card, as we side with Dildar, an encouraging second on his reappearance at Kempton. Well touted as a juvenile last season, Dildar perhaps didn't quite live up to the hype which had seen his price for the Triumph Hurdle plummet before he was seen on a British racecourse, but he was allotted a fair mark as a consequence and only found a talented but enigmatic rival too strong last month. He travelled noticeably well on that occasion and looks capable of building on the effort, particularly if the first-time cheekpieces have the intended impact.

Timeform SmartPlays:
All at Cheltenham

Back John's Spirit @ 5.85/1 in the 12:40 
Back Katenko @ 5.95/1 in the 13:15
Back Dildar @ 5.69/2 in the 16:10

Look out for Brand new features with Timeform Race Passes - In-Play Hints, Running Notes & Warning Horses. Find out more at timeform.com.