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Autumn Breaks At Western House Hotel Handicap Stakes

15:38 Ayr Tue 29 Sep 2026 0m7f50y Class 4 Heavy 10 runners

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Mr Fox’s call

Count Palatine silks

Count Palatine

SPECULATIVE Advised 17/2 Est. 26%

7TH

Mr Fox says

Count Palatine (SR:75, 17/2) has steamered 26% in the market — significant money for a handicapper at this level — and brings the strongest course record in the field (W1P3 at Ayr), which matters enormously on a specialist track in heavy ground. Carrying 10-1, he is matched on weight with top-rated Misunderstood but at a far more generous price. Form figure of '7' last time out is the only blemish in a recent sequence that includes a '6' and '1', and the MarkMv:+3 is a modest 3lb rise that shouldn't be a significant barrier. The trainer Michael Dods (12% strike rate, 1682 runners) is a northern specialist who knows Ayr intimately, and Sean Kirrane's 11% career rate is respectable for this grade — crucially, the money is coming for this combination. Each-way alternative: Quest For Fun. Main danger: Quest For Fun — Quest For Fun (SR:82, 7/2) is the joint-highest rated runner, has steamed 12% in the market, holds a Course:W1P3 record at Ayr matching Count Palatine's, and GoingFit:~ suggests a degree of proven ability in soft/heavy conditions — Tim Easterby is a shrewd handler and this combination of course form plus market confidence makes it the most credible threat.

Verify· #20453

Full result

Winner: One Night Thunder (GB) at SP 11/2. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

  1. 1 One Night Thunder silks One Night Thunder Fox #3 Gemma Tutty · Connor Beasley 13/2
  2. 2 Quest For Fun silks Quest For Fun Fox #2 Tim Easterby · David Allan 7/2
  3. 3 Stanage silks Stanage Michael & David Easterby · Joanna Mason 12/1
  4. 4 Misunderstood silks Misunderstood Fox #4 David O'Meara · Daniel Tudhope 10/3
  5. 5 Wobwobwob silks Wobwobwob Adrian Keatley · M. P. Sheehy 12/1
  6. 6 Abduction silks Abduction Jim Goldie · Jake Dickson(5) 10/1
  7. 7 Count Palatine silks Count Palatine Fox #1 Michael Dods · Sean Kirrane 17/2
  8. 8 Homestrait silks Homestrait Brian Ellison · Tom Kiely-Marshall(3) 11/2
  9. 9 Circle of Trust silks Circle of Trust Kevin Ryan · Kevin Stott 16/1
  10. 10 Tip Foster silks Tip Foster David & Nicola Barron · David Nolan 25/1

Top 4 — how each finished

  1. 1 Count Palatine silks Count Palatine 17/2 7TH
  2. 2 Quest For Fun silks Quest For Fun 7/2 🥈 2ND
  3. 3 One Night Thunder silks One Night Thunder 7/1 SP 11/2 🏆 WON
  4. 4 Misunderstood silks Misunderstood 10/3 🏁 4TH