Timeform UK SmartPlays: Monday March 11

Two of today's SmartPlays come from Plumpton

With today's racing predictably quiet on the eve of the Cheltenham Festival, we're duly playing it fairly straight on the SmartPlays.

First we're taking in Plumpton's 14:40, a four-runner novices' handicap chase. It's the sort of race in which being in form can count for plenty and today it appears as though just one of the four, Upton Mead, fits the bill. He returned from a break to win over 17 furlongs here from a basement mark in January then, following an excusable blip in a jumpers' bumper, won again at Fontwell last week. Although Upton Mead is now 12 lb higher than for his previous success here, he may well be suited by the trip and, given the paucity of opposition, perhaps won't need to improve, anyway.

A sojourn to Taunton is next up, with a similarly low-grade handicap, this time over hurdles, in our sights. In fairness to the 16:20, two of the remaining seven runners boast Timeform p's, which is well above average for races of its type, and it's one of those runners that interest us. In a past life, Meirig's Dream was a fair Flat handicapper, but previous runs over hurdles for Natalie Lloyd-Beavis promised barely a sniff of that ability. However, he's now joined Philip Hobbs and, bearing in mind the ability he one possessed, would need show only a fraction of that to defy a BHA mark of just 69. Think Its All Over (the other 'p horse' in the race) aside, this looks as good an opportunity as Meirig's Dream could wish for.

Finally we're back at Plumpton for the 16:40, a real test over three and a quarter miles with a field to match: the majority are exposed old plodders, but not Gemini Ahhs. Admittedly, Gemini Ahhs technically fits into the veteran category, but he's very lightly raced for a 10-year-old and has seemingly been waiting his entire career for a test like today. Last time at Towcester, Gemini Ahhs finished second over three miles, though jumped a bit left throughout and kept on like a thorough stayer. Granted a longer trip, a left-handed track and, just possibly, an easy lead today, everything looks in place for a bold showing from Gemini Ahhs.

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back Upton Mead @ 2.427/5 in the 14:40 Plumpton
Back Meirig's Dream @ 5.04/1 in the 16:20 Taunton
Back Gemini Ahhs @ 3.814/5 in the 16:40 Plumpton