Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday May 3

The opening handicap (14:05) is more open than the market implies. Favourite Rock Choir is probably the likeliest winner, though his price actually overstates his chance; much better to place an each-way bet on Burano. 

The selection is consistent, an important factor for any prospective each-way bet. He's also very adept over this intermediate nine-furlong trip, showing as much at Newbury and Meydan as well as on the Rowley Mile. His form isn't in doubt, either, probably running as well as he ever has when in a hot race won by Gabrial's Kaka at Newbury last time. But for being hampered Burano might have beaten everything else bar the fast-improving winner. The same would be a danger here, the aforementioned Rock Choir a case in point, though we've every reason to think that Burano will be thereabouts.

Our other two SmartPlays are linked by the idea that, for all they've achieved all you could ask of them, they're yet to reach fulfilment. Pearl Secret in the Palace House (14:40) is first. His shortcomings don't extend beyond his own supposed fragility, his disappointments on the racecourse (poorly drawn in the 2012 Nunthorpe and third in last year's King's Stand) hardly representing abject failure. Still, he's five now and you feel he has to start making up for lost time soon. This field is strong but not exactly deep, while even chief form rivals Sole Power and Hot Streak will have to improve on recent efforts to match what Pearl Secret did on his reappearance, a performance which is stronger than a three-length beating of merely useful rivals suggests. For the sake of karma as well as our wallets, this can hopefully be the start of Pearl Secret's ascent to the top of the European sprinting division.

Finally we move onto the Guineas (15:50). The proclamation that Australia is the best Ballydoyle has ever had has long since bedded into the market, and fresh stories are seeing it flower anew as he reaches for Kingman at the head of the betting. 

Reported 10-length beatings of War Command behind closed doors are one thing; the Greenham is an altogether more satisfactory piece of evidence. Collateral form; visual impressions; timefigures; sectionals: they all tell the same story. Kingman is bound for top class, most likely top of the class. To beat him, Australia will need to be extremely good and will need to get there pronto. 

Incidentally, do you know who the best colt to come from Ballydoyle has been up to now on Timeform ratings? It's Hawk Wing. It just so happens that he ran into one in the Guineas, too...

Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Newmarket

Back Burano win & place in the 14:05
Back Pearl Secret in the 14:40
Back Kingman in the 15:50