Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday July 20

Our final bet comes on the turf at Lingfield

"The field is tightly-grouped on Timeform ratings, but course form is as important as anything at Lingfield and Flavius Victor has it in spades..."

Timeform's Saturday SmartPlays come courtesy of action from Ripon, Market Rasen and Lingfield...

The opening contest at Ripon (14:00) looks a competitive heat as far as sellers go and Elualla narrowly gets the vote over her rivals. She shaped better than her fourth suggested in a better race over C&D last time out, that following a break too, although the improving Witchy Woman, seventh that day, is unlikely to be far behind.

An intriguing handicap hurdle follows swiftly at Market Rasen (14:20), with a small but in-form field of useful hurdlers. A number are improving, but a better play could be to side with the still-improving Swampfire, who has rather stuttered in his improvement but has shaped as though stepping up to this trip may well draw out more. Representing a feared combination in trainer Tim Vaughan and jockey Richard Johnson, Swampfire can reverse the form with re-opposing C&D winner Va'Vite.

We move to Lingfield for some evening racing and our final SmartPlay. In the opening seven-furlong handicap (17:30) the George Baker team should provide us a winner courtesy of Flavius Victor. The field is tightly-grouped on Timeform ratings, but course form is as important as anything at Lingfield and Flavius Victor has it in spades: twice a winner over this course on the polytrack, he also finished an admirable second over C&D last time, when he might have won but for being forced wide. Now just 2 lb higher, Flavius Victor looks poised to strike again and, if confirming that impression, there's probably nothing in this field to stop him.

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back Elualla in the 14:00 at Ripon
Back Swampfire in the 14:20 at Market Rasen
Back Flavius Victor in the 17:30 at Lingfield

Discover the latest articles