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

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

3rd

1

(3)

15th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

First Conquest

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

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.

13/2

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

2nd

2

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 4

16:07 Fakenham

Ambiente Friendly

11st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Smart 3yo on the Flat; just 1-5 over hurdles, and his habit of racing far too freely remains a worry, but he wasn't beaten far in a valuable novices' handicap at Sandown (2m, good) last month and is in much calmer waters here.

11/10

8th

13

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Sandown

Ambiente Friendly

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Showed smart Flat form as a 3yo; managed to win in December but has otherwise broadly been too free for his own good since switched to hurdles; ideally needs to settle better.

33/1

4th

1

26th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 4

13:50 Plumpton

Ambiente Friendly

11st 12lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

High-class Flat performer at his best who has taken well to hurdles, winning at Huntingdon in December before pulling too hard and disappointing on handicap debut back there two weeks later; key player with Alex Chadwick offsetting 3lb of his penalty now back in novice company.

2/1

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

6th

1

(7)

17th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

16:20 Newbury

Lavender Hill Mob

9st 10lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

1m4f winner from the front (under Mason Paetel) at Newmarket last May who also scored with a prominent ride over hurdles at Cheltenham (2m5f) in November; had a bit to prove on AW (and over 2m on Flat) when always behind at Kempton three weeks ago but should be benefited from that run.

14/1

8th

1

(5)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 2

14:08 Kempton (AW)

Lavender Hill Mob

10st 0lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

1m4f winner from the front (under Mason Paetel) at Newmarket last May who also scored with a prominent ride over hurdles at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft) in November; not seen since tailed off trying nearly 3m in December; returns to Flat with a bit to prove on AW and over 2m on Flat.

10/1

2

(5)

25th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:10 Newmarket

Lavender Hill Mob

9st 5lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: James Owen

Career-best effort on the Flat when bagging a 1m4f course handicap (good) in May; found out off higher marks in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot and Northumberland Plate at Newcastle the following month; in common with stablemate East India Rock, he's been given a three-month break ahead of this step up to Listed company; has something to find on form with a couple of these.

16/1

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