April 18 / 15.35 Newmarket

15.35

Soft

bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £45368
  • 1m 1f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
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bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 21-333 C BF

Last run: 60 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Smart gelding who has proved consistent, albeit while failing to justify favouritism, in Group races at Meydan this year; progressive on British soil and he's 2-3 at this venue, most recently recording an impressive success in Listed grade (1m2f, soft) last October; respected back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found
OUR TIP

2/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 111-

Last run: 183 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Three from three in his first season last year, winning twice over 1m then proving well ahead of his opening mark in Pontefract handicap when upped to 1m2f (good to soft); posted a very useful RPR last time and could well develop into a Listed/Group performer this season; has to be feared.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(8)

4th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in rear

9/2

1st

4

(8)

4th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in rear

9/2

12th

5

(7)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:15 Ascot

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: James Doyle

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Won a Group 3 and Group 2 in France last season (1m, soft/good to soft); this prominent-racer has run well in defeat in 1m Group 2 races on his last three starts (soft/good) but needs something extra today.

66/1

10/1

Form: 44558-

Last run: 185 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Raced only at 7f-1m; suited by slow ground; successful three times in 2021 for Roger Varian and twice in 2022 for Johnny Murtagh; those wins include two notable handicaps; gelded since last run (Group 1) and now drops back in class; has made a winning reappearance for the last two seasons and, likely to stay this new trip, looks interesting on debut for George Boughey.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

5

(14)

16th Mar 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

15:45 Curragh

Raadobarg

9st 6lb

J: David Egan

T: Raphael E Freire

Winner of this race for Johnny Murtagh, third of 19 last season when trained by George Boughey; generally disappointing since and the most recent of his five wins was for Murtagh in a 7f conditions race at Tipperary in April 2022; change of stable for 2025 campaign.

8/1

6th

2

(7)

28th Sep 2024

Soft

1m 0f 37y

Class 2

13:30 Haydock

Raadobarg

10st 0lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: George Boughey

Well handicapped on his third on heavy ground at the Curragh (1m) in March but he's been generally disappointing since and was only tenth of 14 at Doncaster two weeks ago; new headgear is now tried but his last win was in 2022 and others are more convincing.

7/1

10th

4

(15)

14th Sep 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:25 Doncaster

Raadobarg

9st 6lb

J: David Egan

T: George Boughey

Finished third in this race in 2021 and filled the same position at Ascot last time; not guaranteed to repeat the form, having been inconsistent this year, and his long losing run is another negative.

10/1

Form: 23707- D

Last run: 192 days

W: 9st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Group 1 winner in France in his younger days; placed in two major summer handicaps for new yard last year but didn't fare nearly so well in Group/Grade 3 races subsequently, latest over C&D; this 8yo can be opposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

(9)

18th Aug 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

20:05 Newmarket (July)

Intellogent

10st 2lb

J: Adam Kirby

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Group 1 winner in 2018 when trained in France but he's 0-11 for current stable; went close off 5lb higher in the 2022 Royal Hunt Cup but he's generally struggled in his last seven runs and refused to race at Sandown last month; others preferred.

9/1

4

(7)

8th Jul 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Sandown

Intellogent

9st 5lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Group 1 winner in 2018 when trained in France; 0-10 for current stable; close second in the 2022 Royal Hunt Cup but ran poorly in the latest running of that contest; others are more appealing.

11/1

25th

7

(31)

21st Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Intellogent

9st 6lb

J: James Doyle

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Group 1 winner in 2018 when trained in France; 0-9 for current yard but ran well (close second) off 1lb higher in this contest 12 months ago and has a fighting chance if back in the same form; hinted at a revival on latest outing.

9/1

10/1

Form: 820-51

Last run: 67 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Strode clear for an 11l success in Meydan handicap (1m2f, good) two months ago, recording a smart RPR; however, it remains to be seen whether he can transfer that improved form back to British soil and he's the stable second-string/ with William Buick on board Ottoman Fleet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(1)

18th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

14:36 Lingfield (AW)

Blue Trail

9st 4lb

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

started quickly, led early, headed and prominent soon after start

4/1

5th

1

(3)

18th Apr 2023

Soft

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Blue Trail

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

Strode clear for an 11l success in Meydan handicap (1m2f, good) two months ago, recording a smart RPR; however, it remains to be seen whether he can transfer that improved form back to British soil and he's the stable second-string/ with William Buick on board Ottoman Fleet.

10/1

11th

2

(3)

3rd Sep 2022

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:45 Ascot

Blue Trail

9st 8lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Charlie Appleby

took keen hold, led narrowly or disputed lead, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out

11/1

14/1

Form: 45942-

Last run: 222 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Ran well (66-1 fourth) in last year's Derby but showed no further progress afterwards (1m1f-1m5f) and was flattered by his proximity to high-class Adayar in Doncaster conditions race on final outing; however, subsequent gelding operation may bring him on this year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

27th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

18:08 Cartmel

Masekela

11st 4lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Low-grade Flat performer who joined this yard for £5,000; 25-1 and tailed off in a good-ground maiden at Hexham.

14/1

6th

2

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

17:45 Hexham

Masekela

11st 4lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

On a long losing run on the Flat but he ran creditably when last seen, finishing second at Redcar (1m2f, good; final outing for Tim Easterby) in October; changed hands for £5,000 soon after; going hurdling rather late but not without hope.

10/1

4

(2)

17th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 1y

Class 6

17:05 Redcar

Masekela

11st 1lb

J: Miss Amy Collier

T: Tim Easterby

Runner-up in similar event at Ripon in August and has place claims if back to that form; far from certain to go one better, however, with losing sequence stretching back four years.

13/2

Form: 2/226- BF

Last run: 178 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
One-time Derby hope who landed the Solario as a 2yo; suffered an odds-on defeat at Royal Ascot last term, then had an plausible excuse (heavy ground) for poor effort in French Group 3 on final outing; gelded since and now goes in blinkers; provided he responds well to those two factors, he has clear possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

16th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

16:08 Uttoxeter

Reach For The Moon

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Won two novice hurdles last year (2m/2m1f) but has finished last in his two handicaps; now fitted with a tongue-tie; wouldn't want rain.

14/1

4th

3

13th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

19:35 Market Rasen

Reach For The Moon

11st 3lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Worcester maiden and Fontwell novice winner last summer/autumn; unseen since a 19l ninth of nine on October's Wincanton handicap debut, but retains vast handicapping scope judged on his smart Flat form; can go well fresh though doesn't always.

100/30

Form: 31322- D

Last run: 156 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Very useful and consistent at 1m1f/1m2f in France for Jean-Claude Rouget; Listed winner last July and placed in three subsequent runs; headgear (worn in those four races) now removed; each-way squeak provided he transfers his reliability to Britain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(3)

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

18:12 Sandown

Epic Poet

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Beaten in Group races on his last ten starts but went close in the Yorkshire Cup at York (1m6f, good to firm) last May and he was a good third in that same Group 2 a fortnight ago (good); he should be fine back up in trip and might not be far away.

7/1

3rd

4

(5)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:05 York

Epic Poet

9st 3lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Beaten a head in this last year, despite a highly tactical race; has held his form well (back in Dubai and Saudi Arabia this January-March) and should again be seriously involved, but to win this may require a career best.

5/1

2nd

3

(6)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 5f 61y

Class 1

13:50 Newbury

Epic Poet

9st 7lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

In fine form this year over 1m6f-2m at Meydan and in Saudi Arabia and continued the good work when staying on for a close second in a slowly run Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (1m6f, good to firm) in May; no show when 25-1 at Royal Ascot (1m4f) on latest outing but shouldn't be far away in this lesser race if there's a decent pace to aim at.

3/1

Non-runners

Epic Poet

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.00
Straight Forecast £6.14
Tricast £26.37
Trifecta £23.30

Selections

RP Ratings:

Ottoman Fleet

NEWMARKET:

Poker Face

SPOTLIGHT:

Raadobarg

TOPSPEED:

Intellogent

POSTDATA:

Ottoman Fleet

Telegraph:

Ottoman Fleet

D Express:

Ottoman Fleet

The Star:

Ottoman Fleet

Daily Record:

Ottoman Fleet

The Times:

Poker Face

The Guardian:

Poker Face

Daily Mail:

Poker Face

Daily Mirror:

Poker Face

The Sun:

Poker Face