'It'd be massive' - Fellowes eyes first Group 1 with Marbaan in National Stakes

Charlie Fellowes is targeting a breakthrough first Group 1 success with the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes under consideration for his smart juvenile Marbaan.

Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's two-year-old, one of four juveniles sent to the Newmarket trainer last winter, has won three of his four races including the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last month.

The Vintage was a first Group 2 win for the stable, but Fellowes is considering a run at the Curragh on September 11, emboldened by the news top two-year-old Little Big Bear is likely to miss the National Stakes.

Fellowes said: "Marbaan worked last Saturday morning when Jamie Spencer came and sat on him and he was very pleased. Marbaan scoped crystal clear afterwards and we'll continue to prepare him for Ireland, but we'll take it a day at a time.

"With Little Big Bear not running it has blown a big hole in the race and we have to at least put it back on the table."

After a considerate introduction at Newbury in May, Marbaan has shown the benefits of a softly-softly approach by winning a novice over 6f at Nottingham in June and then following up under a 7lb penalty in another novice over an extra furlong at Salisbury the following month.

Despite that form working out, Marbaan was sent off at 14-1 when accounting for Chesham Stakes winner Holloway Bay and Mysterious Night at Goodwood with the last-named since boosting the form by winning a Group 3 at Deauville.

Fellowes is chairman of the Henry Cecil Newmarket Open Weekend and would like nothing more than to be able to show a Group 1 winner to the crowds at his yard the following weekend of September 17-18.

He said: "If the National Stakes comes off it would be my first Group 1 winner which would be a massive deal for the yard. The closest we've come previously is being beaten less than a length three times in the Melbourne Cup, which is a Group 1 handicap, but we haven't got one over the line yet.

Charlie Fellowes: 'If the National Stakes comes off it would be my first Group 1 winner'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"If he were to win or run well in the National Stakes that would bring the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket into consideration.

"If he didn't run in Ireland then he would head for the Group 1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Arc day. Beyond that, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf would be more than just a pipedream as a mile round those bends would be right up his alley."

The National Stakes has been won by Fellowes' fellow Newmarket trainer Charlie Appleby in three of the last four seasons and he has five juveniles entered this time in Flying Honours, Naval Power, Noble Style, Silver Knott and Victory Dance.

National Stakes entries

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