Timeform UK SmartPlays: Wednesday June 5

Paul Nicholls trains one of today's SmartPlays

We're off to Newton Abbot and Ripon for today's SmartPlays. 

Aikideau (16:50 Newton Abbot) looked a type to keep on the right side over hurdles last spring, but failed to build on that sent chasing for his former yard during the winter. Whilst his jumping was up for question, he was undoubtedly set some stern tasks against rivals that have gone on to prove themselves at a particularly high level. His debut performance for Paul Nicholls was perfectly respectable in the context of this race at Haydock in May and, with the cheekpieces combined with the distinctly lesser class of rival to tackle here, this looks an ideal opportunity for him to break his duck over fences. Nicholls unsurprisingly has an outstanding strike-rate with his chasers here and that only adds to the positives for Aikideau today.

David Barron has his string in fine fettle at present, as he showed yesterday when sending two winners out at Ripon. Antonio Gramsci (19:45 at the same course) looks like he could add to the trainer's healthy tally this evening. An impressive winner on handicap debut at Musselburgh in May, he showed that was no fluke with a good second behind the progressive Heaven's Guest, in doing so coming clear of the remainder. Clearly unexposed, this looks an ideal opportunity for Antonio Gramsci to regain the winning thread.

On the subject of in-form trainers, Elaine Burke is another who has made a good start to the current season and her representative Yeeoow in the 20:15 looks the type to keep the bandwagon rolling. A progressive gelding since March of last year he has steadily made his way up the handicap ranks. His recent Ascot success was made all the more encouraging by not getting the clearest of runs. The old adage of following a sprinter in form couldn't be any better advertised here, and let's hope Yeeoow can send us off with a winner.

Timeform UK SmartPlays

Back Aikideau @ 4.77/2 in the 16:50 Newton Abbot
Back Antonio Gramsci @ 2.3811/8 in the 19:45 Ripon
Back Yeeoow @ 3.39/4 in the 20:15 Ripon