Timeform UK SmartPlays: Tuesday July 16

The 15:30 at Beverley sees Mark Johnston's Dame Nellie Melba attempt to open her account on handicap debut. A half-sister to several winners, including smart performer Lady Jane Digby, this Aussie Rules filly didn't show much in back-end maidens on testing ground, but it was always likely to be the case that she would come into her own as a three-year-old. She left her juvenile form well behind on return at Doncaster earlier this month when possibly appreciating the sounder surface in running on well to take fifth behind the John Gosden-trained Ethel. Dame Nellie Melba looks just the sort her yard do well with in handicaps and is very much one to keep an eye on.

Maria Montez failed in her bid for the hat-trick when below form back at Brighton last time, but that was her fourth run in twelve days which makes the performance understandable and she can bounce back in the 16:45 at Bath. This daughter of Piccolo was particularly impressive when winning by three and a half lengths from Doctor Hilary at Lingfield on her penultimate start (only needing to be shaken up) and having had a month off to be freshened up, an 8lb higher mark is unlikely to be enough to stop her.

The 11-furlong handicap at (Kempton 20:30) sees John Gosdens's Pomology seeking to build on an impressive winning debut at Windsor last month. By the American stallion Arch, the filly (unfancied in the market) won going away by a length and a half from Zipp with Roger Varian's odds-on favourite Ducab (a winner of a Chester maiden since) a further half-length back in third. She looks sure to progress and, being a sister to two-mile winner Dubai Phantom, the extra furlong here will not hold any fears.

Timeform UK SmartPlays:
Back Dame Nellie Melba @ 3.259/4 in the 15:30 at Beverley
Back Maria Montez @ 3.929/10 in the 16:45 at Bath
Back Pomology @ 1.910/11 in the 20:30 at Kempton

Get open access to Timeform data for just £2.50 a day with Timeform Race Passes. It's like a Form Book, Black Book & Race Card all in one! Find Out More!