Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday November 3

The Ruby Walsh-ridden Silviniaco Conti reappears at Wetherby

With the National Hunt season kicking into gear, Timeform's SmartPlays come from the jumps meetings at Ascot and Wetherby...

Claret Cloak (14:35 Ascot) was a useful bumper winner who ended last season on the up with a brace of novice hurdle wins over 2 miles at Newbury and Sandown. He's highly likely to leave that bare form well behind now moving into handicap company and despite the presence of Ile De Re, winner of the Chester Cup and Northumberland Plate since his last run over timber, Emma Lavelle's gelding can make a winning start to his campaign in an event his trainer took with Tocca Ferro two years ago.

The Grade 3 chase that follows is a similarly competitive heat, but despite being 7 lb out of the handicap, Baile Anrai (15:10 Ascot) looks a leading contender. A winning pointer, useful hurdler and three-time winner over fences (all on right-handed tracks) last term, he was still in with a live chance of landing the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase over this course and distance in February when tipping up three out. As one of the least exposed in the field, he may well have more improvement in him.

Wetherby's Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase has drawn a field of six to the West Yorkshire track, including Silviniaco Conti (15:25), a high-class hurdler who took very well to chasing last term, signing off with an easy success in Aintree. A good jumper with stamina assured, he looks very hard to pick holes in and can make a successful reappearance.

Timeform SmartPlays

Back Claret Cloak @ 10.5n/a in the 14:35 at Ascot
Back Baile Anrai @ 13.5n/a in the 15:10 at Ascot
Back Silviniaco Conti @ 2.447/5 in the 15:25 at Wetherby

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