Timeform UK SmartPlays: Sunday September 7

Our first bet at York on Sunday runs in the opening seven-furlong nursery (14:00) as we side with the Richard Fahey-trained Spring Offensive. Spring Offensive shaped with some promise when finishing third over six furlongs at Hamilton on debut, and he duly stepped up on that effort when tackling an extra furlong at Redcar last time, getting off the mark in decisive fashion. Spring Offensive still looked a bit rough around the edges at Redcar - which offers hope of further still to come - but he stayed on powerfully to win by one and a half lengths, well on top at the finish. The form of that race has worked out well and Richard Fahey's juvenile looks to have been leniently treated as he starts out in handicap company.

Next we concentrate on the feature race of the day, the listed Garrowby Stakes (15:00), as Naadirr is taken to register a deserved success. Marco Botti's three-year-old hasn't managed to win this term, but he has progressed well, going close in a red-hot handicap before running creditably at a higher level, and the level of form he has achieved entitles him to the utmost respect. Naadirr hasn't got many miles on the clock and could perhaps be open to a spot of improvement, so he can defy his older rivals.

Finally, we turn to the unexposed stayer Chivers in the two-mile handicap (16:05). Chivers failed to cut much ice over a mile and a half at Doncaster and Catterick, but the step up to 14 furlongs did the trick at Redcar last time as Tim Easterby's strong stayer benefited from the increased emphasis on stamina. The step up to two miles, at a galloping track like York, looks sure to suit Chivers, and further improvement is expected. He is relatively unexposed compared to his older rivals and, in receipt of lumps of weight, rates as a strong bet. 

Timeform UK SmartPlays:
All at York

Back Spring Offensive in the 14:00
Back Naadirr in the 15:00
Back Chivers in the 16:05