Timeform UK SmartPlays: Monday March 4

Two of today's bets run at Kempton.

Timeform suggest bets at both Ffos Las and Kempton on Monday...

The opener at Ffos Las is a 16-runner maiden hurdle but looks to play host to a standout bet in the shape of Creepy, who is taken to capitalise upon a drop in grade on his third starts over timber. The five-year-old, who finished runner-up in a point-to-point, scored on his debut under rules in a Fontwell bumper last October and followed that up with a good effort in a decent race at Cheltenham later that same month. He has so far been pitched in at the deep end over hurdles by connections, contesting Grade 2 events on each occasion and catching the eye when fourth to Coneygree in November before falling two from home at Haydock last month. His jumping needs to improve, particularly if he is to take up his entry in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival, but this does represent a considerably easier task and he should prove difficult to beat. 

We now turn our attention to the action on the polytrack at Kempton, with our second bet coming in the 17:00. The Stuart Williams-trained Blue Jack, who finished third to Equiano in the Group 3 Palace House and beat the likes of Captain Dunne and Borderlescott in a Chester listed race when at the peak of his powers in 2010, took advantage of a career-low handicap mark at Lingfield last time and is of definite interest here having been put up just 3 lb for that success. The eight-year-old got the better of two subsequent winners in Showboating and Black Cadillac with sufficient ease to suggest that he would prove capable of following up, and he could do just that despite being lumbered with the widest draw. 

Kempton's 18:00 is a fascinating race with two contenders, namely Reflect and Buckland, arriving on the back of victories and Right Step competing off a mark some 6 lb below his last winning one with 7 lb claimer David Parkes taking over in the saddle, but we are going to take a chance that Focail Maith can bounce back from a poor showing on his most recent start. The five-year-old had been in good form prior to that, winning at Lingfield before finishing second on three successive outings, and it is possible to forgive his latest showing as he had to work hard to get across from a wide draw, probably doing too much too soon in what was a strong race. His opponents are respected but Focail Maith is the one for us. 

Timeform SmartPlays:
Back Creepy @ 3.02/1 in the 14:15 at Ffos Las
Back Blue Jack @ 4.57/2 in the 17:00 at Kempton
Back Focail Maith @ 5.49/2 in the 18:00 at Kempton

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