1,000 Guineas SmartPlays: Sunday May 4

The first contest under consideration today is the Group 3 Dahlia Stakes over nine furlongs (14:40) and given her trainer's record in the race, Integral looks the one to keep on side. Sir Michael Stoute, successful in the Jockey Club Stakes yesterday with Rock Choir for the same connections, has won five of the last seven renewals of this contest, including with the Integral's dam Echelon. She was a rapid improver as a three-year-old, winning three of her five starts and rounding off her season with a close second to Sky Lantern in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. Providing she is well in herself she looks the type of unexposed older horse that her trainer has excelled with down the years, and can kick off what should be a high-class campaign with a win here. 

It's the feature contest on the card up next, the 1,000 Guineas (15:50) and Miss France, whose current price appears to be an overreaction to her prep-race, looks an excellent bet. She was the ante-post favourite following her success in the Oh So Sharp Stakes in September, and there are excuses for her sixth on reappearance in the Prix Impudence. The moderate pace most definitely counted against her and when she went to make her move in the closing stages she was hampered at a crucial stage. The step up to a mile looks bound to bring about some improvement on pedigree and the fact she'll get a much stronger pace in this afternoon's contest will play right into her hands as well; she looked a filly of some potential last season and at current prices she looks an outstanding investment to realise it. 

The last bet of today comes in the listed Pretty Polly Stakes over ten furlongs (17:00) and all eyes are firmly set on the exciting Taghrooda. Although she's only had one start she looked potentially out of the top drawer when scoring in a C&D maiden in September, and the contest has already produced three subsequent winners. She's a daughter of Sea The Stars out of a smart middle-distance performer and is already high in the ante-post betting for the Oaks. She is a horse to keep firmly on side this season and a facile success here on her way to a possible tilt at Epsom would be no surprise. As you would expect in this type of contest there are dangers including the Sound Reflection and the selection's stablemate Night Fever who's having her racecourse debut. 

1,000 Guineas SmartPlays
All at Newmarket

Back Integral @ 2.265/4 in the 14:40
Back Miss France @ 6.25/1 in the 15:50
Back Taghrooda @ 1.9210/11 in the 17:00