Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday October 20

The opening race, the Long Distance Cup is passed over, and we instead go to the other end of the spectrum in terms of trip for the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (14:20), where James Fanshawe's Society Rock looks the one to be on. The winner of the Golden Jubilee on soft ground at Royal Ascot last year (and arguably unlucky behind Black Caviar in the latest renewal), Society Rock gained his first success since when landing the Sprint Cup at Haydock last time, when he had Gordon Lord Byron (won Prix de la Foret next time) three quarters of a length behind in second and Wizz Kid (subsequent winner of the Prix de l'Abbaye) further back in fifth. A repeat of that Haydock effort should be enough to see Society Rock in the winners' enclosure again.

The second SmartPlay comes in the following race, the Qipco British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes (14:55). Dancing Rain and Great Heavens have strong claims judged on their best, but the former hasn't been seen for 11 months and the latter had a pretty hard race in the Arc just 13 days ago so it may be worth siding with Sapphire, who is in her element under testing conditions and showed she's up to Group 1 level when runner-up in the Pretty Polly in Ireland. Sapphire has since showed her well-being by landing the odds when faced with a fairly straightforward task at Cork and is fancied to land this prize.

It's questionable how many people will be hanging around for the big-field apprentice handicap that closes Ascot's card, but those who do could do worse than backing Ayr Bronze Cup winner Jack Dexter. Jim Goldie's gelding only made his debut it April, but he has quickly developed into a near-smart performer and should be capable of making a bold bid to defy a 9 lb rise for that win at Ayr. There are plenty of others with chances, as is to be expected in such a race, but Jack Dexter is another who revels in soft conditions, still looks well handicapped and is a potential listed/Group class sprinter in the making.

Timeform SmartPlays
All at Ascot
Back Society Rock @ 4.47/2 in the 14:20
Back Sapphire @ 3.929/10 in the 14:55
Back Jack Dexter @ 7.613/2 in the 16:45

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