Timeform UK SmartPlays: Thursday August 9

We start at the Norfolk seaside-venue of Yarmouth. Yes It's The Boy (15:00) has yet to get his head in front, but it would be no suprise if today proved his day after returning to form at Ffos Las last week. Ed Walker's three-year-old chased home the in-form Verus Delicia in a six-furlong handicap at the Welsh track and runs off the same mark today. This time he is the form-horse lurking in a weak-looking handicap and he should land this to enhance his up-and-coming trainer's 57% strike-rate at this track.

There's a competitive-looking card at Haydock this afternoon where Star Kingdom looks the one to be on in the Betfair Sprint Series Qualifier (16:40). The three-year-old is still a maiden, but he was well-backed on debut for Brian Ellison in a five-furlong handicap at Newcastle last time and wasn't disgraced in finishing fourth behind Fear Nothing (who landed a hat-trick next time). It would be no suprise to see him improve on that, especially now he's stepping back up to six furlongs, which seems sure to suit.

In the 17:10 at Haydock, Gold Rules has an excellent opportunity to build on his recent Beverley success. The Michael Easterby-trained gelding showed signs that a return to form was imminent on his penultimate start in a ladies' race at the Yorkshire track and proved a facile scorer nine days ago when running away with a similar event. Gold Rules comes here under a penalty but is well ahead of his mark and looks the type who could rack up a sequence..

Timeform SmartPlays
Back Yes It's The Boy @ 2.747/4 in the 15:00 at Yarmouth
Back Star Kingdom @ 7.413/2 in the 16:40 at Haydock
Back Gold Rules @ 3.929/10 in the 17:10 at Haydock

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