Timeform UK SmartPlays: Tuesday September 30

We kick off proceedings with a staying handicap from Ayr (15:15) and the vote goes to the progressive Scrafton. He's proved a different proposition altogether since switching to handicap company, scoring in good style and both Newcastle and Catterick recently. Today's trip falls between the two he's won over recently so it's unlikely to be a problem and although he's gone up in the weights a bit as a result of his recent winning run, Joey Haynes retains the ride and claims a valuable 3 lb. He's clearly thriving at present and if he turns up in the same mood as in recent starts he will be tough to peg back.

There are signs the National Hunt season is starting to rumble back into life with Chepstow hosting its first jumps meeting of the autumn, and the next contest under consideration is a fascinating novices' handicap chase over three miles from there (15:40). Barton Stacey merits respect despite another rise in the weights but preference is for Creepy on his debut over the larger obstacles. He has an excellent record fresh and after losing his way slightly over hurdles, it's hoped he can reproduce a similar level of form to that which he showed when winning a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last winter. If that's the case he will be tough to beat and he looks to have a live chance of making a winning start over fences.

We return north of the border for our final bet of the day, which comes in the final of the Betfair Scottish Mile Series (17:30), and as you can imagine it look's a competitive handicap. Narrow preference is for True Pleasure with the hope that she can regain some of her early season form. She won two handicaps at around this trip in May and June and did so in good style, but hasn't been seen to best effect on her two starts since. The positive spin on this is that she has slipped back down the weights as a result and given that she is sure to be ready to run with such a valuable prize on offer, she looks capable of beating today's field and giving us a winning end to the day. 

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back Scrafton @ 3.39/4 in the 15:15 at Ayr
Back Creepy @ 4.03/1 in the 15:40 at Chepstow
Back True Pleasure @ 10.519/2 in the 17:30 at Ayr