Timeform UK SmartPlays: Thursday April 10

There looks to be a wrong favourite in Taunton's 15:50. Spoil Me's chance is to be respected, though he's had a few chances now. Contrast with General Ross, who was making his first start for the Tizzard stable when making a successful debut over fences at Wincanton last time. Admittedly the race rather fell apart, though there was plenty to be said for how General Ross's jumping improved as the race wore on. He's been put up 7 lb for that, which is no worse than fair, so he rather than Spoil Me looks the one to beat.

Our bet in the 16:00 at Ludlow is more taking a chance than playing the numbers game. Gardefort is yet to complete a race in Britain, though promise has been something else in common across his two tries so far. The first time he travelled smoothly for a long way at Haydock and seemed just to need the run. He was then pitched into a Festival handicap, yet looked a threat before he blundered four out and evventually falling two fences later. He's not keeping such distinguished company now, at a track with puts the emphasis on speed and away from jumping too, so if Gardefort is to come good in the shorter term he won't get many better chances than this. 

Finally we return to Taunton for their 16:20. It's a relatively competitive race for the grade, though few arrive with the same promise as Waving who has won five times on the all-weather in 2014 in coming back to his very best. This will be just his fourth start over hurdles, the first in a handicap, and a raw translation of his Flat form coupled with a fair aptitude for jumping shown up to now leads us to think that Waving could be very well treated off a BHA mark of 104. He'll be teaming up with the in-form Richard Johnson, too, which can only be viewed as a positive at the moment.

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back General Ross @ 5.85/1 in the 15:50 Taunton
Back Gardefort @ 8.415/2 in the 16:00 Ludlow
Back Waving @ 5.49/2 in the 16:20 Taunton