My Timeform: Three handicappers to follow

Abduction (Timeform rating 98)

Third, 6f handicap, Ayr, Tuesday 23 May

Abduction found only one too good when runner-up in a valuable Sunday Series handicap at Musselburgh on his penultimate start and he underlined that he is in top form at present with a close-up third at Ayr on Tuesday. The six-furlong handicap at Ayr wasn't run at an end-to-end gallop and that wouldn't have suited Abduction, but he still shaped well and left the impression that he was the best horse at the weights. He was briefly short of room a furlong out but kept on strongly close home, only going down by a couple of necks. He is a lot higher in the weights this year after his four handicap wins last season, but he evidently remains on a fair mark, is versatile in terms of trip and going and is one to be interested in.

Theophilos (82)

Runner-up, 1m2f handicap, Ayr, Wednesday 24 May

This was a fairly useful contest and the form has a strong look to it with a couple of last-time-out winners drawing clear in the closing stages. Morning Sun was always holding on to get the verdict by a neck, but runner-up Theophilos was arguably the horse to take out of the race having been caught further back than ideal in a race run at just an ordinary gallop. He conceded first run to the winner (who was always close up) and that probably made the difference between victory and defeat, finishing strongly but just finding the winning post coming too soon. Either way, this was a career-best effort from Theophilos and, still unexposed at around this trip, he will remain of interest from similar marks.

Yaanaas (106p)

Fourth, 1m handicap, Sandown, Thursday 25 May

The four-year-old Yaanaas only made his debut at Newcastle in March, but he's come a long way in a short space of time in the interim and there should be a good handicap in him at some stage having shaped well despite not being seen to best effect on this occasion. Beaten only three and a quarter lengths at the line, he did well under the circumstances to finish as close as he did, running on late under hands-and-heels riding once finally getting a gap inside the final furlong. Before that he'd repeatedly met trouble, suffering interference after three furlongs and then being denied a clear run when going well two furlongs out. All things considered, it's probably worth putting a line through this run and Yaanaas remains a smart prospect after just four starts, very much one to be positive about.