Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) provided ample thrills and spills for connections last year and no doubt they would settle for a similar campaign this year with the 4-year-old as she bids to launch her season, potentially this week. Having been sensationally thrown out of the G1 Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster only for a successful appeal that got the decision reversed, she then confirmed her class with a victory over Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies And Mares S. at Ascot in October. The filly, owned by the partnership of Qatar Racing, Sheikh Suhaim Al Thani and Mohammed Al Kubaisi, will get an entry in next weekend's G2 Jockey Club S. at Newmarket with trainer Ralph Beckett keen to start the filly, but only if he feels she is ready to do herself justice. “Simple Verse is good. She worked on Thursday morning and we will have another close look at her in the middle of next week,” said Beckett. “The plan is to go for the Jockey Club Stakes, but it's possible that if I didn't think she was ready she could go for the Aston Park Stakes [May 14]. I know she would have to carry a 7lb penalty there, but that is irrelevant as she needs to have a run before the Coronation Cup [June 4],” added the trainer.
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