Marple has answers to Nottingham puzzle
Jane Marplec an provide the solution to the MansionBet Beaten By A Head Fillies’ Handicap at Nottingham tomorrow.
Hailing from a fine Oppenheimer family that includes a clutch of black-type performers, Jane Marple has yet to really set the world alight for trainer John Gosden.
She was beaten a fair distance in fifth on her racecourse bow in June, when she was altogether too green to do herself justice and was not given a tough time at the finish.
The experience clearly stood her in good stead next time though, as the Nathaniel filly proved a head too good on her next outing just nine days later.
She initially looked like she would be found out for pace, but when she got rolling Jane Marple stayed on well in a race that is quite hard to work out, as only one of her three rivals has run since.
Jane Marple herself has not been on track following that June outing, but she remains a filly of interest and stepping up to a mile and six furlongs here should suit, judged on her family ties.
Gosd en also takes the wraps off a beautifully-bred colt in Thunder Drum, who tackles the British EBF Oath Maiden Stakes.
A son of Dubawi out of Irish Oaks winner Great Heavens, he is likely to further than the mile he faces here in time.
Act Of Wisdom is another bred in the purple and he is the pick in the Bet 10 Get 20 With MansionBet British EBF Nursery Handicap.
By Galileo out of Jacqueline Quest, Act Of Wisdom was slow to break on his initial all-weather outing and never really got back on terms, being beaten five and a half lengths in sixth over a mile.
Switched up to 10 furlongs next time, Act Of Wisdom was a different proposition with first-time cheekpieces, overcoming a bit of a flat spot before staying on well at the finish to win by three-quarters of a length for Charlie Appleby.
The handicapper has given him a starting mark of 82, and that should be within his compass.
Fellow Appleby inmate D’Bai has become a bit disappointing after previously looking a solid Group-race performer, so it is easy to see why connections have opted to lower his sights at Kempton. His two initial defeats behind Space Blues read quite well, but since landing a conditions heat at Haydock in July, he has found the tasks he has been set a bit beyond him.
He was not disgraced when beaten a length and a quarter by stablemate Glorious Journey in Listed event at Newbury last month, particularly as he could not get a run at the business end of the race.