Timeform UK SmartPlays: Monday April 22

Two of today's SmartPlays come from Pontefract

We're keeping it in the North for today's SmartPlays, with bets from Hexham and Pontefract...

Our visit to Hexham is a brief and early one, with our bet there coming in the first race at 14:30. It's a weak handicap chase for the grade, which is just the sort of race Sleep In First has been sluicing up in of late. Since moving away from very testing conditions Sleep In First has taken off for the James Ewart yard, winning each of his last three starts. The latest of them came at Carlisle, when he easily overhauled Prince Tam despite that one having the run of the race. Conditions look to be in Sleep In First's favour again and, with few of his rivals in the best of form, this looks a pretty good opportunity for him to claim a four-timer.

To West Yorkshire, then, and their big race of the day, a useful sprint handicap at 15:10. As you'd expect, it's a fairly competitive affair, but few look to hold as strong claims as Head Space. A spurt of fine form from the Ruth Carr yard in late-April/early-May has become a seasonal tradition, and the signs are that 2013's version isn't far away with the yard saddling a couple of winners from just a handful of runners in recent days. Head Space had his on spell of top form last year, albeit a mite later in the calendar, and looked back in top form on his reappearance at Beverley last week. Off the same mark and now presumably sharper for the run, this could be the time to catch Head Space.

Finally, we go to the other end of the distance scale, with the Pontefract Marathon at 15:40 being one of the longest races on the British Flat calendar. There are a few in the race that look suited to this rare test (one of which was the now-withdrawn Wily Fox), including Jeu de Roseau. Rated as high as 76 by Timeform on the Flat, Jeu de Roseau is probably now best known for his exploits over hurdles, with his runs in 2012/3 suggesting he's all about stamina these days. It's anticipated that Jeu de Roseau will find this extreme trip on the Flat to be right up his street and, with the Chris Grant yard firing, this could be his day.

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back Sleep In First @ 3.412/5 in the 14:30 Hexham
Back Head Space @ 5.69/2 in the 15:10 Pontefract
Back Jeu de Roseau @ 5.79/2 in the 15:40 Pontefract