John McGuire Handicap

16:05 Listowel Mon 21 Sep 2026 1m4f0y Good 17 runners

Mr Fox’s call

Handani

SPECULATIVE Advised 5/2 SP 5/2F Est. 28%

🏆 WON

Mr Fox says

Handani (SR:100, 5/2) is the standout ability figure in this field — a full 11 points clear of the next-best Sharkeyboy (SR:89) — and carries a highly competitive 8-9, the joint-lightest weight among the serious contenders. The form string 2-231 shows consistent improvement culminating in a last-time-out win, GoingFit:+ confirms the Good ground suits, and trainer D K Weld (13% strike rate from 613 runners) is a reliable handler of progressive three-year-olds stepping up in trip. The DistFit:? is the only caveat — insufficient data at 1m4f — but the form trajectory and class advantage over this field are compelling enough to accept that uncertainty. Each-way alternative: Daboya. Main danger: Sharkeyboy — Sharkeyboy (SR:89, 6/1) is trained by W P Mullins (26% strike rate, the field's best trainer by far) and at just three years old carries only 8-11, giving Handani a negligible weight concession while having significant upside if the 1m4f trip — currently DistFit:? — proves to suit.

Verify· #18982

Full result

Winner: Handani (IRE) at SP 5/2F. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.