Valentine Waltz emerged a revitalised horse after a winter visit to the operating table to stamp herself a realistic contender for the Sagitta 1,000 Guineas contender at Newmarket yesterday.

Sent off a well-backed 7 to 2 favourite, she produced a handy turn of foot to seal victory in the Shadwell Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes.

Worries that Valentine Waltz would find her route to the front blocked were soon allayed as a gap opened up on the far rail. Frankie Dettori seized the opportunity and she quickened smartly to defeat Hawriyah by three lengths with Circle of Gold third in the Group Three event.

The Tote cut Valentine Waltz to 10 to 1 for the 1,000 Guineas, but most of bookmakers were offering 16 to 1.

Valentine Waltz's performance suggested she has improved, despite having come under the surgeon's knife during the close season.

"They had to operate on her knee and the vets seem to have done a great job," said trainer John Gosden.

Valentine Waltz was in the care of Aidan O'Brien for a time last season before being transferred to Gosden. "They decided to move her over here because she just wasn't getting the fast ground she needed in Ireland," said Gosden. "In the end I had to take her to Brighton to find the right conditions.

"She has improved this year and is a much more enthusiastic worker now. She's been working well and I would have been disappointed if she hadn't gone close. She will get one mile and she will be going straight to the Guineas now."

Thick coats were necessary as the July course was hit by hailstones and heavy rain. But champion Kieren Fallon was not complaining as he rattled off a 395 to 1 treble with Ramruma, Billy McCaw and Bahamian Bandit.

Ramruma was sent off at a surprisingly generous 8-1, considering she is trained by Henry Cecil.

With a furlong to travel she had the April Maiden Stakes sewn up and was three-and-a-half lengths clear of All The Way at the line.

Bold Edge thumped his rivals in the NGK Spark Plugs Abernant Stakes much to the surprise of his trainer Richard Hannon.

"I am a bit shocked because he was taken to pieces by Andreyev at home and Andreyev went and lost at Doncaster," said Hannon registering his first winner on the turf this year. "I can only think the ground must have been unsuitable for Andreyev."

Fallon completed the second leg of his treble when Billy McCaw emerged a clear-cut winner of the William Hill Handicap.

Hannon was on the mark again as Fallon guided home Bahamian Bandit in appalling weather in the Boadicea Conditions.