Timeform UK SmartPlays: Friday May 3

Today's SmartPlays come from Musselburgh

Today's three SmartPlays come from a decent card at Musselburgh.

We start off in the 15:00, a handicap over nine furlongs. To be quite honest, we're not trying anything fancy, just emphasising that Frontier Fighter's progressive profile will make him very tough to beat, even more so than his current odds suggest. He won three times during the all-weather season (first a maiden), then showed his effectiveness on turf when upping his form to a useful level over a mile at Pontefract last time. Positive rides, such as the one Frontier Fighter came in for last time, suits Musselburgh every bit as well as Pontefract, and should jockey Daniel Tudhope get it right again his mount should prove very tough to catch.

There's another nine-furlong handicap half an hour later, though this one is a far more competitive three-year-old affair. Several are very much unexposed, including Romantic Settings and Lady Artiste, but the one we're most interested in is King of The Danes. His profile should be familiar, as that of a Mark Johnston-trained front runner whose form got better by the run in maidens. Well handicapped on what he's shown already, King of The Danes is bound to be suited by this longer trip (went no further than a sharp seven at two) and, likely to be under positive tactics at this track that suits such an approach so well, he looks to have a fine chance of making a winning return.

Our final SmartPlay is arguably our chanciest. It comes in the seven-furlong handicap at 17:05, which comprises mostly exposed sorts. Selection Cara's Request wouldn't be an immediately obvious choice, his record over the last couple of years pretty dire, but there's reason to take a chance on him on his reappearance. Firstly, he's obviously fallen a long way in the weights as a result of his prolonged lean spell, while he's left David Nicholls and joined Michael Dods. That wouldn't normally be an overwhelmingly positive trainer change, but Dods has started the season brightly, so this could be the day to catch Cara's Request, if he's ever going to bounce back.

Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Musselburgh

Back Frontier Fighter @ 2.35/4 in the 15:00
Back King of The Danes @ 4.03/1 in the 15:30
Back Cara's Request @ 8.27/1 in the 17:05