Sole Power is a proven Group 1 performer and looks the one to beat in the Palace House Stakes, which is due off at 14:35, but it is hard to overlook the fact that he is an infrequent winner and arguably should have triumphed more often than he has. Bearing that in mind it could pay to take him on with a more unexposed sort, particularly as the suspicion is that Pearl Secret will develop into a real top-notch performer this term. The four-year-old, who has long been described by David Barron as the fastest horse he has ever trained, was unbeaten in his first four starts, including when landing the odds in a listed event at Sandown, and it is best to overlook his effort in the Nunthorpe as very little went right for him on the day, having just about the worst of the draw, being hampered and left in a poor position before finishing with plenty of running left. It would come as something of a shock were he not to prove himself at the highest level before the season is out, and this appeals as being a good starting point.
Although Sentaril is still fairly lightly-raced and has time on her side, she gets underway in 2013 with a definite air of unfinished business about her as she didn't really kick on as many expected her to last season. The four-year-old's form figures don't really tell the whole story however as she repeatedly shaped better than the bare result, particularly so on her penultimate outing at Ascot, though she did manage to gain some compensation when landing a listed event at Lingfield in November. Sentaril is forced to concede weight to her rivals here, a couple of whom are open to improvement, but the impression is that she will go on to better things this year and this could be the ideal launch pad.
Our final SmartPlay goes in Thirsk's feature, the Hunt Cup at 16:35, with Norse Blues fancied to return triumphant. The five-year-old comes up against obvious dangers, such as the convincing Ripon winner Two For Two and Jacob Cats, but with that pair being drawn wide it is well worth chancing Norse Blues, who made the switch from Sylvester Kirk's yard to that of David Barron over the winter. Norse Blues landed the Spring Mile on his seasonal bow last term and, despite going winless throughout the remainder of the campaign, he signed off with a good effort in defeat at Newmarket in September. Norse Blues shaped better than the bare result on his 2013 return at Newbury, going with enthusiasm close up before weakening out of contention as though the run was required, and he is by no means a forlorn hope here with his fitness likely to have been enhanced by that outing.
Timeform SmartPlays:
Back Pearl Secret @ 6.611/2 in the 14:35 at Newmarket
Back Sentaril @ 3.711/4 in the 16:05 at Goodwood
Back Norse Blues @ 9.617/2 in the 16:35 at Thirsk
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