Marmalad shaped as if his time was near when runner-up last time out and rates a solid bet at 7/2 to go one better and open his account in the 12.00 at Lingfield today.
Tom Dacsombe’s charge has only had four starts and shaped well on debut at Haydock when a not kncoked about fourth of 9 to Winslow in a race which has thrown-up subsequent winners – including runner-up Baitha Alga who scored at Chester before winning the listed Woodcote Stakes at Epsom and the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The two-year-old then finished second at Ripon on heavy ground, before disappointing when finishing just 9th of 10 behind Mustard at Haydock after a break of 115 days.
However he left that form well behind last time out at Wolverhampton on the Tapeta surface when an excellent second of 9 to Romance Story on handicap debut off an opening mark of 70.
Marmalade led for most of the 7f trip and kept on at the one pace to be beaten 1 3/4 lengths.
The step up back to a mile may well suit judged on that effort, and the sixth home in the contest Lyfka has since come out and bolted up at Kempton to give the form a boost.
This doesn’t look the strongest of class 5 contests, and off just 1lb higher Marmalad looks to have been found a great opportunity to get off the mark.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win Marmalad (7/2 generally available – use BOG firms)