Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday November 24

Our first selection doesn't run until 14:30, in the fifth race on Merseyside. It's the Grade 3 fixed-brush handicap hurdle, a race which rises in stock seemingly by the year, mostly on account of David Pipe saddling horses that are on their way to top races. First Grands Crus, then Dynaste, now Katkeau? Those making the markets have been implying as much all week, but it could well be that one of Pipe's other runners, namely Knight Pass, could bring up a hat-trick for his yard.

Make no mistake, the case for Katkeau is easy to see: he looks at least fairly treated on his French form and is completely unexposed in the hands of Pipe, who's evidently adept at handling his type. But Knight Pass has more tangible reasons to recommend him. With Warren Greatrex last season, he compiled a fine record away from Cheltenham, winning at Kempton on Boxing Day and looking well ahead of his mark in the process. Now just 7 lb higher and over a trip which, on pedigree, should suit even better, Knight Pass could well be the Pipe first string; stable jockey Tom Scudamore appears to agree.

By the time our second selection runs at 15:20, the feature races at Ascot will have been and gone, but their penultimate race is still a smart handicap chase which may have a bearing on other good races this season. It features Jewson and Mildmay runner-up from last season Champion Court, Maghull runner-up Toubab and our selection, Grand Annual second Tanks For That. Foiled only by an inspired ride by Paul Carberry on ill-fated stablemate Bellvano at Festival, Tanks For That has put up most of his best efforts at Cheltenham down the years, but there's no indication that he's a specialist. Indeed, what seems more important for him putting up a good run is that he's fresh, both his winning reappearance and the aforementioned Grand Annual run coming off the back of a break. With the likes of Champion Court and Toubab helping to make the market, this could be the day for Tanks For That to land some tasty bets.

Our final SmartPlay runs at Haydock 20 minutes later, but at the opposite end of the scale trip-wise over three and a half miles. A few interesting stayers line up, but preference is for the Charlie Longsdon-trained Wide Receiver. He did nothing but improve for Longsdon after leaving Charlie Morlock in mid-2011, signing off with a second-placed finish to Bradley over this C&D. His stable are in good heart at present, while Wide Receiver's latest run over a probably inadequate three miles at Exeter suggests that he too is coming to hand.

Timeform SmartPlays
Back Knight Pass @ 8.415/2 in the 14:30 at Haydock
Back Tanks For That @ 7.06/1 in the 15:20 at Ascot
Back Wide Receiver @ 8.27/1 in the 15:40 at Haydock