Newmarket Craven Meeting - Weatherbys Earl Of Sefton Stakes

4.45 Newmarket

Weatherbys Earl Of Sefton Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £28,385

Pick: Elusive Pimpernel (win)

Polytechnicen: Made it three on bounce when taking advantage of 7lbs concession from second and third when winning Prix Exbury (1m2f, soft) last month; Giving away weight in much harder race but fitness advantage over nearly all of these so bold show can be expected.

Balducci: Has been extremely progressive this spring, winning a Newmarket maiden and hot 1m Haydock handicap; Unable to deal with rising mark next twice but looked on way back when last seen, and given plenty of respect.

Bullet Train: Didn’t go on from superb performance when bolting up in Derby Trial, not looking like a stayer of 12 furlongs; Drop back in trip should help but now has a lot to prove and others fancied more.

Elusive Pimpernel: Two from three as a juvenile (second in Racing Post Trophy) and so impressive when winning Craven on seasonal reappearance here; Fifth in 2,000 Guineas but no pace on that day so excellent performance to get as close as he did to principals and promises to do well this year.

Forte Del Marmi: Won four of his six starts last year in high class 1m2f handicaps and looked well up to being player at Group level when coming with late superb late surge to take big Newbury event; Should go well enough here on rise in class.

Ransom Note: Threatened to be a group performer with Brittainia handicap win last season, and showed merit of that when taking big York race over straight mile at Ebor meeting; Disappointed in Cambridgeshire and has it all to do here.

Steele Tango: Second/fourth in the last two seasons of this and has been in sparking form of late in the UAE, winning two valuable handicaps and running well in Group events; Has no reason why he shouldn’t go well here.

World Heritage: Showed smart from as a three year old but unable to build on that when seventh, fifth and tenth in three races last year; Makes no appeal for new yard on return.

VERDICT: ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL, so impressive on his comeback here in the Craven Stakes last year, and unsuited by a slowly run 1,000 Guineas, can take this onto better things this year. The rest of the line – up is strong, with Polytechnicen being the most feared from a list of Forte De Marmi, Steele Tango, & Ransom Note.