Happy Birthday Mark Holton Nursery Handicap Stakes

13:47 Redcar Wed 23 Sep 2026 0m7f219y Class 6 Good to Firm 10 runners

Mr Fox’s call

Hope of Acklam

SPECULATIVE Advised 3/1 Est. 34%

8TH

Mr Fox says

Hope of Acklam (SR:69, 3/1) is the top-rated horse in this field by a clear margin and has steamed in 20% in the market — the most significant positive move of any runner. Dropping two class tiers makes this a much easier assignment than recent starts, and Billy Garritty (12% SR) is a competent booking. The concern is GoingFit:? and DistFit:? (trip is 7f219y, a stiff test for a two-year-old), but the class drop and SR advantage outweigh those unknowns. The form figure of '3' last time out at Class 5 or higher, combined with a course place (W0P1 at Redcar), suggests the horse handles this track and is coming into form at the right time. Each-way alternative: Astral Calling. Main danger: Astral Calling — Astral Calling (SR:61, 3/1) is trained by K.R. Burke whose 20% career strike rate is the best in the field, and the horse's last run produced a '2' — its best recent finish — suggesting it is coming to a peak, though DistFit:- is a genuine concern at this extended trip.

Verify· #19291

Full result

Winner: King Of Persia (GB) at SP 9/1. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

1 King of Persia Tim Easterby · David Allan 12/1
2 Son of A Fish Fox #3 Richard Hannon · Paul Mulrennan 9/4
3 Diplomacy Michael & David Easterby · Joanna Mason 18/1
4 Wells Fargo Stage Tim Easterby · Duran Fentiman 40/1
5 Craven Force Craig Lidster · Tom Eaves 18/1
6 Astral Calling Fox #2 K. R. Burke · Jack Nicholls(3) 3/1
7 Right Up My Ali Mark Walford · Rhys Elliott(5) 33/1
8 Hope of Acklam Fox #1 Michael & David Easterby · Billy Garritty 11/4
9 Dakota Brave Charlie Johnston · Connor Beasley 8/1
— Lopefernza David Loughnane · David Probert 12/1

Top 4 — how each finished

1 Hope of Acklam 3/1 8TH
2 Astral Calling 3/1 6TH
3 Son of A Fish 5/2 🥈 2ND