Ian Carnaby Handicap Stakes

15:30 Brighton Mon 24 Aug 2026 0m5f215y Class 6 Good to Firm 8 runners

Mr Fox’s call

Blue Anthem

SPECULATIVE Advised 5/4 Est. 32%

🥉 3RD

Mr Fox says

Blue Anthem (SR:69, 5/4) is the standout case on multiple converging signals. A mark drop of 13lb since last win is the single most striking data point in this field — that's a massive handicapper's gift at Class 6 level, and combined with a class drop (↓1), this is a horse set up to win. GoingFit:+ confirms proven ability on today's good-to-firm ground, which is directly relevant given the sharp Brighton track. Billy Loughnane at 19% strike rate is the strongest jockey booking in the race, and the market has steamed in 41% — the money has found this runner emphatically. The recent form string 950088 looks ugly on the surface but the mark drop of 13lb explains why those efforts can be discounted; off this reduced mark with proven ground conditions, the profile flips entirely. Each-way alternative: Dark Sun. Main danger: Dark Sun — Dark Sun (SR:71, 11/2) is the highest-rated horse in the field, has steamed in 59% in the market — the most dramatic move after Blue Anthem — and despite GoingFit:- is clearly attracting serious money that may have inside knowledge of improved going tolerance.

Verify· #14025

Full result

Winner: Dark Sun (GB) at SP 5/1. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

1 Dark Sun Fox #2 James Bennett · Laura Coughlan(3) 9/2
2 Be An Angel Rod Millman · George Wood 11/2
3 Blue Anthem Fox #1 Gerard O'Leary · Billy Loughnane 11/10
4 Nordic Glory Michael Attwater · Owen Lewis(5) 12/1
5 The Organiser Mark Pattinson · Pat Cosgrave 7/2
— Von Krolock Fox #4 James Owen · Christian Howarth(3) 11/4
— Rye Fox #3 Tony Carroll · Marco Ghiani 4/1
— Unico Chris Gordon · Harry Davies 12/1

Top 4 — how each finished

1 Blue Anthem 5/4 🥉 3RD
2 Dark Sun 11/2 SP 5/1 🏆 WON
3 Rye 4/1
4 Von Krolock 11/4