Timeform UK SmartPlays: Thursday November 14

It'd normally be a bit early in the season to start talking up Venetia Williams, whose string usually don't get going until nearer Christmas, but she's flying at present and Rydalis (14:00 Ludlow) is our idea of the next winner to emerge from her Herefordshire base. She got back to her best when finishing second at Exeter last week, going with zest but unable to repeal another fairly unexposed sort, the pair pulling clear of the rest. Turned out before any rise in her mark can take effect, Rydalis has an even longer trip to face, but this track and these conditions will pose a lesser test so she's unlikely to fail for stamina.

We make a quick visit to Taunton in between our two bets at Ludlow, taking in the 14:10 which has been selected over a couple of engagements at Cheltenham for the promising Guess Again. He was third in a strong maiden here on his chasing debut and shrugged off a subsequent 10-month absence to land a handicap at Warwick last week. Strong travelling has been a staple of Guess Again's runs so far, something that's especially important around Taunton's sharp turns, while the fact he escapes without a penalty for last week's success (conditional jockeys race) means that he evidently has plenty of mileage from a handicapping standpoint, too. 

Back at Ludlow, plenty are open to improvement in the novice handicap chase at 14:30 but it could be worth going with one that has been there and done it. Christopher Wren belatedly came back to his best over fences when winning at Worcester last time, travelling strongly and idling in front. As a result, he's been raised a fairly lenient 6 lb for his efforts and has things even more in his favour today: as a strong traveller that has made mistakes in the past, Ludlow appeals as just about the ideal track for Christopher Wren. He should have at least one more win in him before his form levels out.

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back Rydalis @ 3.412/5 in the 14:00 Ludlow
Back Guess Again @ 3.711/4 in the 14:10 Taunton
Back Christopher Wren @ 13.012/1 in the 14:30 Ludlow

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