Angus McNae's Racing UK Blog
	Saturday 12th April 2014

Coral are offering 5 places to all customers betting on the Scottish Grand National

Don’t Miss out on 10-1 Guineas hope

It is the time of year where the Flat meets the jumps and also the time of year when form study gets somewhat frantic and confused. There is never a more important time to focus and concentrate and for me that means turning all of my attention to the Flat season.

With that in mind I would like to make a case for backing Miss France in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas despite her defeat in the recently run Prix Imprudence at Maisons-Laffitte.

I think there was a massive overreaction to her defeat in the Imprudence. She went into the race as favourite for the Guineas and was expected to win. Following defeat, she is now a big looking 10-1.

The reasons for her loss have nothing to do with her not retaining all of her ability, but have everything to do with the run of the race, the trip, and her trainer’s approach to trials. Let's deal with those in sequence.

The pace of the steadily-run race caused Miss France to over-race in mid division and she was too keen. The pace also made the race messy and at a crucial time Miss France was short of running room. Thereafter her jockey accepted the situation and merely pushed her out hands and heels, under which she ran on nicely.

Let's also remember that this race was over seven furlongs which is a minimum for her. Her trainer is Andre Fabre and he is a man who does not want his horses to have hard races in their trials. With that in mind, surely he would have been pleased enough with Miss France.

It would seem that the intention is for her still to come to Newmarket, the track where she was really impressive in the Oh So Sharp stakes in a fast time and it would be no surprise to see her produce an impressive performance in the Guineas.

The overreaction to her trial defeat should be taken advantage of and an each way bet at 10-1 with Paddy Power looks to be very fair.

I am interested in two plays this weekend and both come in the two big races. First up let's deal with the Aon Greenham at Newbury in which I think Kingman is too short at 2-1 and should be laid on the exchanges.

I know he won his maiden in impressive style and produced scintillating finishing splits and thereafter went on to win the Solario at Sandown in less impressive fashion.

Since then he has had a problem and an operation. On the back of that we are asked to take 2-1 about him in a very hot trial. I know he has massive potential, but we do not know whether, in a top class renewal of his race, which Kingman is going to turn up. The price is partially created out of the red-hot form that the Gosden team are in.

Secondly I have had a look at the Coral Scottish Grand National and am going to give Merry King another chance. I fancied him many weeks ago at Haydock, where he was pulled up. That day it looked as if he was a tired horse on the back of good runs in the Welsh National and the Peter Marsh.

He has had a break since then and should now be fresh for this task. He is a thorough stayer, the ground will be fine for him and now that he has been freshened up, looks like a cracking good each way bet at 20-1 with BetVictor.

Angus McNae's Saturday tips:

2.55 Newbury: Kingman lay on the exchanges at 3.0

3.50 Ayr: Merry King each-way at 16-1 with MansionBet

Antepost - 1000 GuineasMiss France each-way at 10-1 with Paddy Power