Timeform UK SmartPlays: Monday June 3

Barney McGrew is fancied to hit the mark at Carlisle.

Timeform advise bets at three different tracks on Monday...

The 16:15 at Leicester features plenty of horses that boast little recent winning form, so the likes of Dashwood, Creek Falcon Sofias Number One are obvious interest having hit the mark in 2013, but it is worth taking a chance on the Michael Blanshard-trained Bajan Bear. The five-year-old won handicaps at Newbury and Doncaster in 2011 and generally performed with credit last year, putting up one of his best efforts when fourth in a strong handicap at Newmarket. He returns to action in 2013 on a workable mark and the booking of Kieren Fallon catches the eye, so he could go well at a fair price. 

Lenny Bee and Barney McGrew finished second and fourth respectively at Doncaster last month but the latter has dropped to an attractive mark and is fancied to reverse the form. Barney McGrew was a Group 3 winner in 2010 and ran well in several high-quality sprints off marks in the low 100's; he clearly is no longer capable of that sort of form but the suspicion is that a mark of 78 still underplays his current ability and, with the likelihood of a strong pace, he could get the race run to suit. 

Quite a few hold chances in a competitive finale at Windsor but we're going to side with Nordic Quest, who shaped as though his turn was near at Salisbury last time and is fancied to go close. The four-year-old found one too good on three occasions last year, posting his best effort when beaten by the progressive Castilo Del Diablo on the polytrack at Kempton, and his effort at Salisbury when last seen was a definite step back in the right direction. The relatively unexposed Mexicali has to be respected but Nordic Quest is fancied to take the win. 

Timeform SmartPlays:
Back Bajan Bear @ 11.5n/a in the 16:15 at Leicester
Back Barney McGrew @ 7.26/1 in the 19:45 at Carlisle
Back Nordic Quest @ 6.86/1 in the 20:30 at Windsor

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