Marcel is a dark bay colt with a white sock on his left hind leg, bred by David Hyland at the Oghill House Stud in County Kildare.

Marcel made his first appearance in a seven furlong maiden race at Ascot Racecourse on 11 July in which he started a 16/1 outsider and finished fifth behind Ray's The Bar.

[5] For his third and final start as a juvenile, Marcel was stepped up sharply in class for the Racing Post Trophy over one mile at Doncaster Racecourse on 24 October.

After being restrained by Andrea Atzeni in the early stages, Marcel made rapid progress and overtook Deauville to take the lead a furlong and a half from the finish.

After encouraging reports of his training performances he started the 8/1 third favourite but after being in contention for most of the way he faded badly in the final quarter mile and finished last of the thirteen runners behind Galileo Gold.