Coca-Cola HBC Ireland And Northern Ireland 3-Y-O Hurdle

16:30 Down Royal Fri 28 Aug 2026 2m1f87y Good to Firm 9 runners

Mr Fox’s call

Nicky Larson

SPECULATIVE SP 8/13F Est. 32%

🏆 WON

Mr Fox says

Nicky Larson (SR:76) is the highest-rated horse in the field and the only runner with two hurdle starts under his belt, showing a 3-1 form line that demonstrates genuine ability and consistency. He carries top-weight of 11-4 but the SR advantage over the next best (Swift Charm SR:75) is meaningful in a field this modest, and Paul Nolan at 9% with Sean Flanagan is a competent combination. All runners share identical DistFit:? and GoingFit:? so no horse holds a proven edge there, but Nicky Larson's actual race experience (two runs, placed both times) over horses who are either unraced under Rules or have a single poor run gives him a clear form edge in a 3YO novice hurdle at this level. Each-way alternative: Swift Charm. Main danger: Swift Charm — Swift Charm (SR:75) matches Nicky Larson at the top of the SR table, carries a favourable 10-5 versus 11-4, and Crawford's yard has clearly targeted this race as a suitable debut for a stable companion — the dual headgear (ht) application suggests connections believe they need to sharpen the horse up and are serious about a big run first time out.

Verify· #14659

Full result

Winner: Nicky Larson (FR) at SP 8/13F. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

1 Nicky Larson Fox #1 Paul Nolan · Sean Flanagan
2 Nod Of Approval Mrs John Harrington · Simon Torrens
3 No Bother Aoife Fox #3 Gavin Cromwell · Conor Stone-Walsh
4 Point Star Mark Fahey · Thomas O'Connor(7)
5 Swift Charm Fox #2 W R Crawford · P J O'Hanlon
6 Sands Castle Adrian Sexton · Harry Sexton(7)
7 Fay Og W R Crawford · J J Slevin
8 Camp Verde John Joseph Hanlon · Michael Kenneally(5)
— Moon Aura C A McBratney · Kevin Sexton

Top 4 — how each finished

1 Nicky Larson SP 8/13F 🏆 WON
2 Swift Charm 5TH
3 No Bother Aoife 🥉 3RD