Timeform UK SmartPlays: Wednesday July 3

Our final SmartPlay is in action at Chepstow

On a low-key day of racing, Timeform bring you a bet from all three of today's Flat venues...

We head to Catterick for our first bet on Wednesday, hoping that Jan Smuts will appreciate the return to near two miles at 15:30. Jan Smuts managed to register back-to-back successes earlier this season, including one victory over C&D, and he has remained in good form since, despite his latest two efforts coming over inadequate trips. The booking of Connor Beasley, a man well worth his 7-lb claim, is another positive and there is little reason to suspect that Jan Smuts won't give another good account.

Our next SmartPlay runs in the first race at Kempton as we side with last-time-out winner Zhiggy's Stardust in the opening six-furlong apprentice handicap (18:20). Zhiggy's Stardust showed much improved form to get off the mark over C&D last time, staying on well to defy the well-backed favourite, the pair dominating the race from some way out. He remains unexposed having had just the five starts and trainer Henry Candy is a master at conjuring improvement out of these lightly-raced types. The booking of the talented and in-form apprentice Oisin Murphy is also a positive and everything looks set up for a bold show from Zhiggy's Stardust.

David Lanigan has his string in good form at the moment and he has found a nice opportunity for the unexposed Footstepsintherain to add another win in the 19:40 at Chepstow. Lanigan isn't renowned for his first-time-out winners but Footstepsintherain had little trouble getting off the mark at the first time of asking in an ordinary Wolverhampton maiden last year. Undoubtedly disappointing on his only subsequent start as a two-year-old, Footstepsintherain returned all the better for a seven-month break and gelding operation, travelling well and only narrowly going down in a minor event at Newmarket. That race appealed as the sort of contest that would throw up plenty of winners and Lanigan has found his contender a weak-looking handicap this evening. 

Timeform UK SmartPlays:
Back Jan Smuts @ 6.86/1 in the 15:30 at Catterick
Back Zhiggy's Stardust @ 2.166/5 in the 18:20 at Kempton
Back Footstepsintherain @ 2.3611/8 in the 19:40 at Chepstow

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