Angus McNae's top tips for Thursday: May can strike gold at Newmarket

There were some tremendous performances at Royal Ascot last week and I was impressed with Japan’s victory in the King Edward VII Stakes.

He forged clear of a decent field in a very fast time and achieved that despite being forced very wide turning for home.

If the Epsom Derby had been run at a stronger gallop, and his jockey had not dropped his whip, we may have been talking about him as a Derby winner and would be seeing him in the Irish Derby this weekend.

I certainly think that there is a big chance that he will emerge as the best horse out of the Epsom Derby. He has plenty of options including the St Leger, but I think he is a top-class mile and a half horse and should be given a chance in the King George back at Ascot where he would be a live contender.

In my opinion, he is the best mile and a half three-year-old out there and is a best-priced 6-1 for the King George.

I am looking to bounce back after a poor run of form over the past two weeks and I have four selections this week to get the ball rolling again.

It would be very hard to find a horse this season who won as easily as this horse did last time out at Ripon.

He hardly came out of a canter to win off a mark of 73 and, under a 6lb penalty, he is a must here. That was his first run in a handicap, and he is clearly miles ahead of the handicapper.

The horse he beat that day at Ripon was a previous winner and there is every reason to think that Faylaq will win just as easily here.

It would be an act of folly to not back this horse today as he impressed with a fast time win at Windsor two starts ago.

I then tipped him in my column to follow up at Haydock but, given how the track played that day, he had no chance.

He travelled well until just past halfway on the unfavourable stands side before floundering off the bridle.

That run is easily forgivable and, off the same rating of 62, he looks really well treated based on his Windsor success.

It is worth keeping the faith with this horse and giving him another chance here.

This three-year-old runs in a handicap for the first time today after three promising qualifying efforts earlier this season.

His opening mark of 72 may well underestimate his ability as he has a decent pedigree and showed signs of ability last year without ever being given too hard a time.

On his first career start he finished third at Windsor and the horse that finished in front of him was Durrell who won next time out in a Chelmsford handicap off a mark of 85 therefore a rating of 72 may turn out to be a mark that underestimates this handicap debutant.

He should go close here under Adam Kirby.

I like this horse. He only does what is required and I thought he won with plenty in hand last time out at Sandown.

He won over a mile at Nottingham before that fast time win at Sandown where he was not inconvenienced by a drop back to seven furlongs.

Back up to a mile today gives him scope for more improvement, particularly as he is on a 5lb higher mark here and that underestimates his dominance at Sandown last time.

He has a good turn of foot, yet tends to idle when he hits the front so I do not expect him to win easily here, but I do expect him to win and complete the hat-trick.

I am drawn to this horse because of her fast time win last time out. She was given a more patient ride than normal last time and that brought about a good deal of improvement.

She travelled strongly and quickened well to win going away and, now carrying a 5lb penalty, she can win again if similar tactics are employed.

The presence of Hawaam in the race will ensure a strong gallop which will help Maygold come from off the pace and land this prize for the Ed Walker team.