bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes (Group 3)

Inspired buy by connections, winning a nice prize at the York Ebor meeting last summer before following up in the Cambridgeshire over C&D. Respectable 4½ lengths eighth of 13 to Spirit Dancer in Saudi Group 2 on reappearance in February.

Smart at his best but ran below par when down the field in a 1¼m Newcastle handicap on his recent reappearance. First-time blinkers need to have a very positive effect if he's to play a leading role here.

Useful horse but there's little in his recent record to think he can get heavily involved in such a competitive Group 3.

Made it 3 wins from his first 4 starts when dead-heating in 1m Salisbury Group 3 last August. Creditable 2¼ lengths fourth of 10 to Poker Face in 1m Longchamp Group 2 (1m, good to firm) on final 3-y-o outing. This lightly-raced son of Roaring Lion should have more to offer in 2024.

Huge improvement when 1¾ lengths second of 14 to Chaldean in 2000 Guineas here (1m, heavy) last May. Also placed in the Irish 2000 Guineas 3 weeks later but lost his way badly in the second half of the season. A subsequent wind operation needs to help spark a revival.

Progressive filly who showed smart form when ending her 3-y-o campaign with a 1¼m course Group 3 success (soft) in October. Shoulders a penalty for that so will need to raise her game again to make a winning reappearance.

Fit from Dubai when winning this 12 months ago and arrives on the back of a couple of runs there this year. His latest was a little disappointing but no surprise were he to bounce back to form with a bang for a yard with a good record in this.

Has won a Group 3 every year bar one since 2018, including 6-runner Diomed Stakes at Epsom last June. Some good efforts in defeat later in the season and each-way claims if fully primed after 5 months off.

Won the Royal Lodge here as a juvenile and added another Group 2 success in the Dante at York last May. Fair third on Southwell return in January but not in the same form in Saudi since.