'It's worth a shot' - Fellowes hopeful Marbaan can be Dewhurst dark horse

Marbaan "looks a picture" ahead of the Dewhurst Stakes (3.00) according to trainer Charlie Fellowes, who hopes quicker ground at Newmarket can help put his Group 1 disappointment last month behind him.

An impressive winner of the Vintage Stakes earlier in the year, he finished last of six in the National Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend last time, after which his jockey Jamie Spencer said he was unsuited by the soft ground.

Fellowes shares that assessment by Spencer and has been very pleased by Marbaan's subsequent work at home.

"He's good, he worked nicely last week on the grass and will do a little Tapeta work tomorrow morning, that'll be all he does until the race," Fellowes said. "We're very much pinning our colours to the mast that he hated the ground in Ireland.

"I thought he travelled really well over there and looked like he was going to play a big hand, but Jamie [Spencer] said once he went for him, the wheels span and he couldn't get any traction.

"The forecast this week looks lovely and it should be beautiful ground, possibly on the quick side of good, which would be ideal."

Charlie Fellowes: hopes Marbaan can outrun his odds in the DewhurstCredit: Edward Whitaker

Prior to his below-par run at the Curragh, Marbaan completed a hat-trick when defeating Holloway Boy in the Vintage at Glorious Goodwood.

That form has worked out since, with the third Mysterious Night winning a Grade 1 in Canada, and Fellowes is hopeful that will give his colt an excellent chance.

"If you ignore Ireland, the form of his Goodwood win couldn't have worked out much better," he added. "I think it's worth a shot, he looks a picture and we think he'll handle the track fine."

Marbaan is 25-1 for the Dewhurst with William Hill and is among 12 who remain in contention for the 7f Group 1.

Impressive Mill Reef Stakes winner Sakheer has been supplemented for the race and his trainer Roger Varian could also be represented by Charyn, while dual Listed winner Naval Power is in line to run for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin.

Champagne Stakes winner Chaldean is also in the mix, while Aidan O'Brien could be doubly represented with Group 2 winners Auguste Rodin and Aesop's Fables.

Dewhurst Stakes entries

Aesop's FablesTBC
Auguste RodinTBC
ChaldeanFrankie Dettori
CharynTBC
IndestructibleTBC
Isaac ShelbySean Levey
MarbaanJamie Spencer
Naval PowerWilliam Buick
NostrumRichard Kingscote
Royal ScotsmanJim Crowley
SakheerDavid Egan
VictoriaRoad TBC

Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Saturday 3.00, Newmarket)

Paddy Power: 5-2 Sakheer, Naval Power, 4 Chaldean, Nostrum, 11-2 Auguste Rodin, 8 Aesop’s Fables, Isaac Shelby, 16 bar

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