TimeformBlog

Today's SmartPlays come from this evening's meetings at Nottingham and Yarmouth. Let's hope they are worth the wait...


Dannios is making a name for himself as somewhat of a Yarmouth course-specialist and he can stretch his unbeaten run at the track to five wins (17:35). Something about the seaside air must inspire Ed Walker's gelding, who had finished last season in poor form, having been asked to race at venues away from Yarmouth, but he managed to defy a ten-month absence when making his seasonal reappearance here last week. Dannios deserves credit for managing to win, having allowed his rival to gain first run, and the fact he reappears without a penalty, due to last week's contest being an apprentices' event, makes him of obvious interest here.

Staying at Yarmouth, our next SmartPlay comes in the form of Michael Bell's recent all-weather winner Exceedexpectations (18:35). Despite having displayed some promise in maidens, his latest effort signalled a significant improvement on anything he had achieved to date and a 6lb penalty should not be enough to stop him, such was the authority of the win. The manner in which he travelled through the race caught the eye and, despite hanging right in the closing stages, he appeared to have plenty in hand as they crossed the line. Provided he can transfer that polytrack form to turf, Exceedexpectations should take plenty of beating.

The drop back to the minimum distance should suit Selfara (Nottingham 20:20) and enable her to get off the mark. Roger Charlton's filly enters this contest in good form, having produced her best effort yet when second at Ffos Las last time out, shaping as if there was still more to come. That effort came over six furlongs and Selfara, wearing first-time blinkers, possibly did too much too soon, tiring close home having looked the likely winner at one stage. The pace she showed on that occasion suggests that dropping back to five furlongs could prove to be ideal and, if the blinkers have the same impact this time, she could prove to be a formidable opponent. The application of a tongue-tie for today's contest could also see Selfara improve the necessary amount to prove victorious.

Timeform SmartPlays
Back Dannios @ 2.9 in the 17.35 at Yarmouth
Back Exceedexpectations @ 2.35 in the 18:35 at Yarmouth
Back Selfara @ 3.02 in the 20:20 at Nottingham


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