Timeform UK SmartPlays: Tuesday September 17

The first at Thirsk (14:10) is a six-furlong nursery. In it we have a horse who is top on Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings and sports a 'p' after just three starts. The horse in question is See The Sun and, perhaps surprisingly given that introduction, he can be backed at nearly 5.04/1. 

See The Sun got better by the run in maidens, taking a leap forward to hold off a 'large p' horse at Pontefract last time. That race is working out favourably, to the extent that a BHA mark of 82 now looks lenient for See The Sun. The return to six furlongs should see him in a better light, so if anything See The Sun might even be expected to improve. That would make him very tough to beat.

Yarmouth's feature, the Class 2 handicap at 16:00, contains our second SmartPlay. Thomas Hobson's claims are every bit as strong as See The Sun's on Timeform figures and, although not available at nearly as eye-catching a price, he is an equally strong bet in this much smaller field. A slow learner in maidens, Thomas Hobson has taken off switched to handicaps, winning at Leicester and Newbury. On each of those occasions he's shaped like one who'll benefit for a step up beyond 10 furlongs and gets that chance today. There's plenty of competition in this field, as you'd expect given the grade, but nothing can claim to be as unexposed at Thomas Hobson, or even claim a similar strength of form, so he's a bit of value even at around 3.02/1.

Finally, we return to Thirsk, book-ending their card with a selection in the closing handicap at 17:15. Both War Poet and Eric The Grey have recent course form, but that's no match for what White Nile brings. A maiden winner on his second start, White Nile has since made the frame in a couple of handicaps, including a fourth-placed finish in a stronger race than this at York last time on his return from 11 months off. A rise of 2 lb might be a tad harsh on the face of it, but White Nile did shape like a horse that will prove ahead of its mark once fully geared up. Sensibly given time to recover after that seasonal reappearance, everything looks in place for White Nile to get off the mark in handicaps, so much so that there's felt to be value to be had even at around 2.68/5.

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back See The Sun @ 5.04/1 in the 14:10 Thirsk
Back Thomas Hobson @ 3.211/5 in the 16:00 Yarmouth
Back White Nile @ 2.68/5 in the 17:15 Thirsk

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