Timeform UK SmartPlays: Thursday September 5

Luca Cumani versus Ryan Moore is the common factor in our first two races, and in both instances we're favouring the jockey over the trainer. 
We start with the 14:30, in which Cumani's handicap debutant Paradise Watch is respected, but ultimately passed over in favour of the Jeremy Noseda-trained Investment Expert. He is one up on Paradise Watch in terms of experience having already tackled a handicap, a strong event in which he finished just over a length behind Brownsea Brink despite getting further back than ideal on account of a sluggish start. Should he avoid showing such inexperience today, Investment Expert almost certainly has a lot more improvement to come and makes just a little more appeal than Paradise Watch at a similar price.

There's something of an interloper in the 15:35: Mark Johnston's Fennell Bay, a fine second at Sandown on Saturday, is well worth considering alongside Cumani's highly-progressive Mankini and Moore's mount, the well-bred Venue. Those who've been paying attention will already have guessed that Venue is the selection, his strength in the market this morning helping tip the balance in his favour. He's related to several at least useful middle-distance winners, and made a winning start to his career in handicaps when taking a three-runner event in July. That race was better than the turnout implies, with both of his rivals improving sorts based in good yards. The competition today is arguably stronger, but it'd be surprising if Venue were to have reached his ceiling already, something which hasn't been lost on the morning punters.

Neither Moore nor Cumani has an interest in the high-quality minor event at 16:05, though the race is no poorer for it. All six of the runners can boast at least a very useful level of form, and Intransigent can count himself as smart. He's come back to his best in recent starts, finishing second in a Chester listed race and a Goodwood handicap from a BHA mark of 99. His form can come and go somewhat, but Intransigent is now proven over seven furlongs and anything north of 3.02/1 is a backable price about him in this company.

Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Haydock

Back Investment Expert @ 5.14/1 in the 14:30
Back Venue @ 2.427/5 in the 15:35
Back Intransigent @ 3.39/4 in the 16:05 

Have you checked out our new, improved Facebook page? It's the place to go for our features & tips!