Kempton's listed novice hurdler at 15:20 is a competitive event, despite the field size, but the unexposed Parlour Games sets the standard and remains open to further improvement so could prove difficult to beat. Parlour Games was useful on the Flat for Godolphin and he made a sparkling hurdling debut at Huntingdon, despatching inferior rivals with the minimum of fuss as he won hard held. He went backwards at Stratford next time, turned over as a long odds-on favourite, but got back on the right track at Market Rasen, cruising clear and confirming the impression that he's a useful prospect. The ultra-competitive Galway Hurdle was unsurprisingly a bridge too far but he faces optimum conditions here and can put his speed to good use.
We head to Bath for our next two bets, starting with the staying contest at 15:35, as Le Maitre Chat appeals as a good bet. Clive Cox's unexposed three-year-old looked unlucky not to go very close at Ascot last time, unsurprisingly relishing the step up to two miles as he travelled well before meeting trouble at a crucial stage. It was encouraging to see him keep on strongly in the final furlong, albeit when his chance had already gone, and he is clearly on a workable, capable of making an impact in a contest such as this granted a clear passage.
Daisy Boy has progressed steadily throughout his career and he can take another step up to land the 17:15 at Bath. It is difficult to assess exactly what Daisy Boy achieved when winning at Bath last time as few horses gave their running. However, there was a lot to like about the way Daisy Boy battled back once headed, finding plenty to lead again close home, and, with just seven runs under his belt, there is every reason to expect that he can progress again. A 4 lb rise in the weights for that Nottingham win could well prove to be on the lenient side, considering Daisy Boy's progressive profile, and he is expected to go in again.
Timeform UK SmartPlays:
Back Parlour Games 3.1511/5 in the 15:20 at Kempton
Back Le Maitre Chat @ 3.211/5 in the 15:35 at Bath
Back Daisy Boy @ 6.05/1 in the 17:15 at Bath
