Behans Horseshoe Bar, Restaurant & Townhouse Handicap Hurdle

16:17 Listowel Thu 24 Sep 2026 2m4f0y Good 21 runners

Mr Fox’s call

First Ascent

SPECULATIVE Advised 6/1 Est. 18%

12TH

Mr Fox says

First Ascent (SR:113, 6/1, 11-6) posts the second-highest SR in the field and is the leanest weight carrier among the top-rated horses, giving him a clear pounds advantage over Carrigg Island (SR:114, 12-0) whose top weight is a real burden in a 21-runner handicap hurdle. Gordon Elliott's 18% strike rate is comfortably the strongest training operation in the field, and James Smith's 9% career figure is solid for a claim. Crucially, GoingFit:+ confirms the horse handles today's good ground well, and the recent form line -54231 shows a last-time-out win that demonstrates peak fitness, with only 21 days since that run — fresh enough but not stale. The 12% drift is a mild concern but Elliott regularly places horses in provincial handicaps without strong market moves, and the trainer signal here overrides a moderate drift. Each-way alternative: Killowen House. Main danger: Carrigg Island — Carrigg Island (SR:114, highest in the field) has steamed in 51% in the market — by far the sharpest move of any runner — and connections have clearly targeted this race after 341 days off, though top weight of 12-0 on good ground over 2m4f remains a significant ask.

Verify· #19527

Full result

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