April 15 / 15.00 Newmarket

15.00

Good To Firm

bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £48203.5
  • 1m 1f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV4
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bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/4

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 113-44 CD

Last run: 81 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Smart globetrotter who is the winner of three US Graded races; finished fourth in UAE Group 1 on last appearance; record of 4-5 at this course features wins in this contest for the last two years (started favourite both times); holds very solid claims in his bid to become the first horse to land the Earl of Sefton three times.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(6)

15th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Ottoman Fleet

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Smart globetrotter who is the winner of three US Graded races; finished fourth in UAE Group 1 on last appearance; record of 4-5 at this course features wins in this contest for the last two years (started favourite both times); holds very solid claims in his bid to become the first horse to land the Earl of Sefton three times.

5/4

2nd

5

(6)

15th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Ottoman Fleet

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Smart globetrotter who is the winner of three US Graded races; finished fourth in UAE Group 1 on last appearance; record of 4-5 at this course features wins in this contest for the last two years (started favourite both times); holds very solid claims in his bid to become the first horse to land the Earl of Sefton three times.

5/4

1st

7

(8)

17th Apr 2024

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Ottoman Fleet

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Did very well at this course in 2022 and 6-4 favourite when winning this race last year (good to soft) in clearcut style, coming from last to first in a seven-runner race; also won in the USA last May; this year's build-up at Meydan has not been quite so persuasive as last year's, with a short-priced flop on latest outing, but the ground here should not be an issue and a return to his form of 12 months ago would make him the one to beat.

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: 51-113 C BF

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 4yo who is 2-3 at the Newmarket tracks and 3-4 since wearing a hood; campaigned at Meydan this year, unsuited by steady pace when beaten favourite in Group 2 most recently; incurs 3lb penalty for Group 3 success the time before but may still have further progress in him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(2)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

First Conquest

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Charlie Appleby

Ended his 2025 campaign by finishing third in 1m1f contests won by Damysus and stablemate Opera Ballo; consistent but appears very unlikely to reverse placings with those rivals and is the only runner who lacks recent match practice, being the sole seasonal debutant in the field; drops back to 1m for first time since winning a good handicap in July 2024; one of three runners for his yard and possibly in here as a pacemaker.

40/1

1

(3)

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

13:15 Newmarket

First Conquest

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Held up; Meydan improvement (mostly on on fast ground) was backed up when third in 1m1f Group 3 here in April but, after 116 days off, it's his fourth of seven in Haydock Group 3 (1m2f, good) nine weeks ago on latest start which makes him a leading contender on form.

4/1

4th

1

(3)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 100y

Class 1

15:00 Haydock

First Conquest

9st 10lb

J: David Probert

T: Charlie Appleby

Won handicap debut at 2024 Newmarket July meeting and next seen adding 1m1f handicap and 1m2f Group 3 wins at Meydan in January; ran creditably in defeat since in a Group 2 there and Group 3 at Newmarket but today's company demands much better, including as he gives weight to all; off 116 days.

16/1

Form: 12305-

Last run: 212 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Formerly trained by James Fanshawe (remains in same ownership); strong traveller who was impressive in the Lingfield trial then ran well behind City Of Troy in last year's Derby; no further progress subsequently and was disappointing in French race on final outing; however, commands respect on peak figures and gives the impression this drop back in trip is well worth exploring.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(8)

29th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 99y

Class 1

18:30 Windsor

Ambiente Friendly

9st 7lb

J: George Wood

T: James Owen

It's been some fall from grace since he finished placed in two Derbys as a 3yo, with his only subsequent win coming over hurdles; very opposable.

33/1

6th

7

(2)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 11y

Class 2

16:10 Goodwood

Ambiente Friendly

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Owen

Runner-up in the Derby in 2024 but nothing like the same force now; after a stint over hurdles he was comfortably beaten in a handicap at Royal Ascot last month; hard to fancy.

66/1

8th

2

(12)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Ambiente Friendly

9st 12lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

His second in the 2024 Derby is feeling pretty distant now and on latest outing he was second of four in a handicap hurdle at Fakenham; hooded throughout that hurdles campaign and sometimes on Flat, but that is now replaced by cheekpieces; this is also his first ever Flat handicap.

33/1

Form: 39147-

Last run: 300 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Faces a difficult task on Flat form for previous yard and hasn't fully live up to expectations in juvenile hurdles for current stable, notwithstanding one win; connections have a markedly stronger chance with Ambiente Friendly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(12)

21st Aug 2026

Good

1m 4f 15y

Class 2

18:15 Hamilton

Lavender Hill Mob

9st 3lb

J: Shane Gray

T: James Owen

Versatile 5yo whose latest win was a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last November (2m5f, soft); hasn't been at his best on the Flat this year (2m-2m4f) although not beaten far in the Shergar Cup last time; not sure drop in trip will suit.

22/1

8th

2

(5)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 209y

Class 2

14:10 Ascot

Lavender Hill Mob

9st 8lb

J: Jamie Melham

T: James Owen

Useful 1m4f performer and pretty good on his day over hurdles; however, hasn't found his best form this season at 2m/2m4f and has yet to convince as a stayer in this discipline; tried a visor last time at Royal Ascot and cheekpieces return.

16/1

14th

5

(2)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Lavender Hill Mob

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

1m4f winner from the front off this mark at Newmarket last May who also scored with a prominent ride over hurdles at Cheltenham (2m5f) in November; has a bit to prove over 2m on Flat, including having been always behind on both starts this year; now tries a visor (often wears cheekpieces) and maybe there will be a change of tactics.

40/1

Form: 1318-3

Last run: 52 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Mare

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Steadily progressive as a 3yo last season, winning two useful handicaps in the south and Ayr Listed event (all over 1m2f on turf); looks the type who could improve further this season and looks interesting with reappearance (outstayed in 1m3f AW Group 3) under his belt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Cairo

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.80
Straight Forecast £8.88
Trifecta £21.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ambiente Friendly

RP RATINGS:

Ottoman Fleet

POSTDATA:

Persica

TOPSPEED:

Ambiente Friendly

Daily Mail:

Ambiente Friendly

D Express:

Ambiente Friendly

Daily Mirror:

Ambiente Friendly

Daily Record:

Ambiente Friendly

Telegraph:

Persica

The Guardian:

Persica

NEWMARKET:

Ottoman Fleet

The Times:

Ottoman Fleet

The Star:

Ottoman Fleet