Earl of Sefton Stakes (Group 3)

THE big race on Tuesday was the Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes over nine furlongs.

The going for the opening day was soft although a significant breeze saw it dry throughout the week, while also providing a headwind which saw a bias against front runners over the three days.

Charlie Appleby traditionally hits the ground running at this fixture and, having won the opening conditions race, he doubled his tally when 6/4 favourite Ottoman Fleet (Will Buick) readily took the feature by two lengths from Poker Face (Simon and Ed Crisford/Ryan Moore), thereby taking his record on the Rowley Mile to 1211.

The winner, a four-year-old by Sea The Stars, has his limitations at group level, having been beaten favourite in a trio of blacktype races at Meydan earlier in the year, but he clearly relishes Newmarket, for all he was well suited by being held up off an overly strong pace in this particular contest.

Charlie Appleby reckons a bit of cut in the ground is important for Ottoman Fleet and, depending on the forecast, he may look to give the gelding a break, bearing in mind he was busy in Meydan.