Marcellinus

What catches the eye is not the headline numbers but the pattern underneath them. In his last six races, Marcellinus has won twice and finished placed in four others, meaning he has been in the frame five times from six outings. That is the signature of a reliable sort who rarely runs badly; the wins at Bath in April and Brighton in August suggest he has found conditions or distances that suit him, even if neither victory has come at the most eye-catching level. Tom Dascombe's Upper Lambourn yard, which has already sent out 22 winners this season, knows how to keep horses like this ticking over, and the fact that Marcellinus raced just yesterday shows he remains an active part of the stable's plans.

The eight weeks since his Brighton win might worry some, but at three years old with a modest winning record, there is no shame in spacing races or building towards something better. Marcellinus is the sort of horse that will give his the yard honest racing, finish placed more often than not, and pop up with a win when the right race comes along. He will never make the headlines, but he will pay his way.