Forever Our Mike Handicap Stakes

15:15 Haydock Sat 26 Sep 2026 0m6f0y Class 3 Soft 14 runners

Mr Fox’s call

Rousing Encore

SPECULATIVE Advised 7/2 Est. 28%

🥈 2ND

Mr Fox says

Rousing Encore (SR:95, 7/2) holds the highest Saturday Rating in the field and carries a very competitive 9-9, giving it a meaningful weight advantage over the heavier-laden rivals. The 38% market steam — the most dramatic shortening in the field — signals strong stable and market confidence for this step down a class (ClassMv:↓1). GoingFit:~ confirms prior soft-ground exposure, and the recent run just 8 days ago (Form:403052) shows the horse is fit and in regular work under Ruth Carr (12%, 1,588 runners). The distance flag (DistFit:-) is the key risk, but the class drop and market move together outweigh that concern in a field where no rival combines SR leadership with genuine market support. Each-way alternative: Storm Force. Main danger: Storm Force — Storm Force (SR:91, 9/2) has a sharp Form:3-11 — back-to-back wins — carries only 9-12, has proven distance fitness (DistFit:+), is shortening in the market (Mkt:in6%), and Callum Rodriguez's 20% strike rate is the strongest jockey stat in the race, making it the most likely winner if Rousing Encore's distance concern proves decisive.

Verify· #19897

Full result

Winner: Black Star Boy (IRE) at SP 18/1. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.