SMART BOYO should relish the return to two miles in the #betyourway At Betway Handicap (7.00) at Wolverhampton.
Hollie Doyle’s mount wore blinkers when trying the trip for the first time in a handicap at Kempton Park two starts ago, and rattled home to beat The Resdev Way by three-quarters of a length.
The Phil Kirby-trained son of War Command stepped back to a mile and six for a classified stakes at Wolverhampton 16 days ago and, again in the headgear, ran a solid race to take second, beaten a length and a quarter, to Owen Little.
Back in handicaps and back at two miles, Smart Boyo and Doyle compete from a mark 3lb higher than when gaining that first career success.
But there is more to come from a horse having his ninth outing on the Flat, and Smart Boyo can get back to winning ways.
Half an hour later, IT'S A LOVE THING gets the vote for the concluding Read Ross O’Sullivan On Betway Insider Handicap (7.30).
Grace McEntee’s partner could have fared better with the draw - he is berthed 12 of 12 - but he put up an improved effort to land a gamble over course-and-distance last time and a 6lb rise is not insurmountable.
Monday's tips
PLUMPTON
1.00 UNANSWERED PRAYERS
1.35 BALLINSKER
2.10 KANSAS CITY CHIEF
2.45 ONE FOR DUNSTAN
3.20 RUBY YEATS
3.55 SAMI BEAR
STRATFORD
1.45 NEBUCHADNEZZAR
2.20 SILVER SHADE
2.55 ESPRIT DE SOMOZA
3.30 OSPREY CALL
4.05 JAUNTY FLYER
4.40 RAMBO T
TAUNTON
2.00 CHECKITSME
2.35 PETROSSIAN
3.10 SOME DETAIL
3.45 AMELIA’S DANCE
4.20 ROYAL PLAZA
4.50 GETAWAY CORY
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.00 LADY ALAVESA
5.30 CRITICAL THINKING
6.00 THREE PLATOON
6.30 ETERNAL SUMMER
7.00 SMART BOYO (NAP)
7.30 IT’S A LOVE THING (NB)