Timeform UK SmartPlays: Thursday September 12

Doncaster's Group 3 Sceptre Stakes, due off at 14:10, can go the way of the Ed McMahon-trained Winning Express, who is fancied to turn the tables with her Goodwood conqueror Annecdote. Winning Express' other main rival is likely to be Maureen, but she finished ahead of that one when they last clashed in the 1000 Guineas so she ought to confirm the form with her, whilst she meets Annecdote on 3 lb better terms her with that one penalised for his victory in the Oak Tree Stakes. Winning Express is a strong-traveller who seems ideally suited by the demands of a seven furlong race, and she could well prove a difficult nut to crack. 

The 16:25 at Doncaster is a fiendishly difficult sprint handicap to assess in which a chance is taken on Line of Reason, who is best forgiven his York effort in July and holds solid claims on his C&D form earlier this term. The three-year-old has now run poorly on the two occasions that he has visited the Knavesmire but if you look back to his run at this venue earlier in the season, when second to the highly progressive Moviesta, and when fourth in a solid handicap, again at this track, in June he has to have a shout here, and a current price of 32.031/1 looks much too big.

Our final SmartPlays comes in the 18:30 at Wolverhampton, a race which sees the return of Mrs Bannock who looked a useful prospect when scoring on her sole start last year. Her absence is a worry however so it may be best to focus on Star Pearl and Imaginary World, with the first mentioned given a narrow verdict. The three-year-old hails from the yard of Roger Varian, who is firing on all cylinders at present, and she got off the mark in a Windsor maiden in June, not needing to improve but having plenty in hand. She made a good start to life in handicaps at Newmarket the following month, finishing third to subsequent Group 3 winner Top Notch Tonto, and she remains with potential to do better in this sphere. 

Timeform SmartPlays:
Back Winning Express @ 4.03/1 in the 14:10 at Doncaster
Back Line of Reason @ 32.031/1 in the 16:25 at Doncaster
Back Star Pearl @ 5.24/1 in the 18:30 at Wolverhampton

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