ROGER FIELDS THE BEST BET
THERE’S a cracking afternoon of racing on ITV4 to enjoy today and EMBESTO (3.00) is the choice in the Group Three bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket after making huge strides last term.
Roger Varian’s charge won his first two starts, winning by six lengths in a Yarmouth maiden on his debut before following up with a cosy novice victory at Doncaster in June.
Upped to Listed company subsequently, he found an on-form Nostrum too good at Newmarket but Embesto then raised his game to a new level when deadheating in a Salisbury Group Three with Mighty Ulysses.
A further inching up to Group Two level in France only narrowly failed to pay dividends as he was beaten just under three lengths in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein, but looking as though a move up to nine furlongs here would be to his liking.
The other Group Three contest on the card is the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes and DANCE SEQUENCE (3.35, nb) can book her Qipco 1,000 Guineas ticket with victory.
Her trainer Charlie Appleby did not enjoy a stellar campaign by his own high standards in 2023, but he has started this year in fine form and this daughter of Dubawi appears his leading three-year-old filly at this stage.
Earlier in the day, the Richard Fahey-trained
NATIVE AMERICAN
(2.25, trb) is taken to land the bet365 Feilden Stakes on the evidence of his juvenile wins at York and the Curragh, while ORAZIO (1.50) just gets the nod in the wide-open Weatherbys Global Stallions App Handicap six-furlong stampede featuring 20 runners.
The ITV4 cameras also turn their attention to two races at Cheltenham and IDALKO BIHOUE
(2.40, nap) has strong claims in the Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ six-year-old shaped like a useful prospect over fences when winning a novices’ handicap here in October.
And although he hasn’t been seen since disappointing on Boxing Day, expect a strong return on a favoured track.
The Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle looks an ultra-competitive handicap but the vote goes to SEA INVASION
(2.05), who was much improved when making a winning handicap debut at Plumpton recently and Chris Gordon’s trainee should have more to offer on just his sixth career start.