Who To Follow At Newmarket On Tuesday - 18/04/23

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Mon 17 Apr 2023 14.02

Newmarket 14:35

6(2)

Poker Face

J: Ryan Moore

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

N/A

Age: 4

Weight: 9-2

OR: 101

Days: 183

The feature event of the afternoon at Newmarket is the Group Three Earl Of Sefton Stakes over 1m1f and Poker Face for Simon & Ed Crisford could take all the beating.

The four year old has been seen three times to date and is currently unbeaten on all three of his starts, making his debut over a mile at Pontefract in September when winning well in a Maiden.

Sent into a Novice Stakes under a penalty he went on to beat a 4/5 favourite for John & Thady Gosden in convincing fashion at Newcastle on the all weather.

Landing the hat-trick in October back at Pontefract on handicap debut, he bolted up by close to nine lengths off a mark of 87.

Now on a rating of 101, he steps into Group Three company and obviously still progressing he should take this race in his stride if handling the softer conditions.

Form: 111View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
27/08/23	DEA	8	Sft	9-0	1
30/07/23	PON	8	GS	9-7	1
07/07/23	SAN	10	Gd	9-9	2
20/06/23	ASC	10	Gd	9-5	14
12/05/23	CHS	10.5	Sft	9-3	4

Charlie Appleby sends a strong team to flat racing HQ on Tuesday starting in the opener where he has the favourite and third favourite with both Majestic Pride and City Of Kings having big chances.

Appleby then has the fav in the next with New Kingdom a winner last time out at Meydan and only 4lb higher can't be ruled out, maybe being a group horse in a handicap.

The Godolphin trainer fields two again in the feature Group Three Earl Of Sefton Stakes with Ottoman Fleet and Blue Trail showing good form of late.

Appleby heads into the Craven meeting currently running at a strike rate of 33% for the last two weeks, managing to land four winners from his last 12 runners.

Leading rider Ryan Moore is back in England for Newmarket's three day meeting and on the opening day of the Craven meeting he has a few chances to go close.

In the opener Moore rides the second favourite Hi Royal and he holds some very good form from his two runs to date and is the big challenger to the Godolphin pair.

Moore then teams up with Richard Hannon on Tacarib Bay and the four year old has a big chance to get back to winning ways getting dropped back to 7f and tackling soft ground.

The riders next ride is arguably his best chance of the afternoon sitting on Poker Face for Simon & Ed Crisford in the Group Three Earl Of Sefton Stakes.

Moore teams up with Hannon again in the Maiden over 7f on board Palamon who has more experience than most in the field.

The highly decorated rider heads into the Craven meeting running at a strike rate of 21% for the last fortnight, managing to land five winners from his last 24 runners.