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17:25 Curragh Sun 16 Aug 2026 0m5f0y Good 12 runners

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Mr Fox’s call

Mary Shoelaces silks

Mary Shoelaces

SPECULATIVE Advised 4/1 Est. 32%

🏁 4TH

Mr Fox says

Mary Shoelaces (SR:72, 4/1) leads this moderate field on Saturday Rating and carries the most compelling combination of signals. The market has shortened 24% — the largest steam in the race — indicating informed money backing a horse that is proven at this distance (DistFit:+, the only runner with a confirmed plus-rating at 5f). Her form string 1-0671 shows a win last season and a recent sequence that includes a 1 and a 7, suggesting inconsistency, but the application of blinkers (HG:b) at this trip for the first time looks like a trainer intervention designed to sharpen focus, and the 24% market move suggests connections believe it will work. Jockey Jessica O'Gorman has a strong 21% strike rate from 29 rides, a compact book that implies she picks her spots. The weight of 10-2 is the joint-highest in the field but is offset by her SR advantage and distance fitness — no other horse combines DistFit:+ with market confidence of this magnitude. Each-way alternative: Happy Henry. Main danger: Happy Henry — Happy Henry (SR:74, 9/2) is the SR leader in the field, has shortened 7% in the market, and his form string 331315 shows consistent involvement — a 1 and two 3s in recent runs — making him a live threat if Mary Shoelaces's blinker experiment misfires.

Verify· #12771

Full result

Winner: Harry's Hill (GB) at SP 4/1. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

  1. 1 Harry's Hill silks Harry's Hill Fox #4 Martin Hassett · Paddy Harnett(5) 9/2
  2. 2 Soulful Diva silks Soulful Diva David Marnane · Nathan Crosse 11/1
  3. 3 Bold Optimist silks Bold Optimist Fox #3 Daniel McLoughlin · Ben Coen 7/2
  4. 4 Mary Shoelaces silks Mary Shoelaces Fox #1 Eddie & Patrick Harty · Jessica O'Gorman(7) 4/1
  5. 5 Ballysax Lil' Mick silks Ballysax Lil' Mick Miss Katy Brown · Wesley Joyce(3) 17/2
  6. 6 Pure Valour silks Pure Valour J G Coogan · Reese Holohan(7) 66/1
  7. 7 Arctic Steps silks Arctic Steps Ross O'Sullivan · Dylan Browne McMonagle 17/2
  8. 8 Heart Of Eternity silks Heart Of Eternity Denis Gerard Hogan · Mel Sheridan(7) 50/1
  9. 9 Happy Henry silks Happy Henry Fox #2 W McCreery · Leigh Roche 5/1
  10. 10 Lady Landhort silks Lady Landhort Daniel McLoughlin · Conor Cusack(7) 33/1
  11. 11 Surpass And Shine silks Surpass And Shine Patrick J Flynn · Seamie Heffernan 11/1
  12. — Kiss Don't Tell silks Kiss Don't Tell Daniel McLoughlin · Scott McCullagh -

Top 4 — how each finished

  1. 1 Mary Shoelaces silks Mary Shoelaces 4/1 🏁 4TH
  2. 2 Happy Henry silks Happy Henry 9/2 9TH
  3. 3 Bold Optimist silks Bold Optimist 7/2 🥉 3RD
  4. 4 Harry's Hill silks Harry's Hill 4/1 SP 4/1 🏆 WON