← Honest Record · Pick Winner · Mr Fox

Denis Macauley Memorial Novice Handicap Hurdle

14:48 Downpatrick Fri 09 Oct 2026 2m1f65y Good 5 runners

View the racecard →

Mr Fox’s call

Facile Ocean silks

Facile Ocean

SPECULATIVE Advised 15/8 SP 2/1J Est. 38%

🏆 WON

Mr Fox says

Facile Ocean (SR 107, 15/8) leads the field on ability and is the only runner with a confirmed positive going fit on today's good ground — a meaningful edge in a five-runner novice handicap where three rivals carry GoingFit:- on this surface. Carrying 11-12 is the heaviest burden, but the 3lb advantage over Lygon Lad in weight-for-SR terms is marginal, and the form string -23214 shows consistent placing with a recent win, suggesting peak fitness 49 days on. The tongue-tie is a neutral flag here. Lygon Lad is the obvious danger but has drifted 13% in the market, undermining confidence in that yard's intentions today. Each-way alternative: Lygon Lad. Main danger: Lygon Lad — Gordon Elliott at 18% career strike rate with Jack Kennedy (22%) aboard is the strongest connections pairing in the race, and despite the 13% market drift the raw ability gap between SR 104 and the rest is narrow enough that a good jump round could overcome going reservations.

Verify· #22374

Full result

Winner: Facile Ocean (IRE) at SP 2/1J. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

  1. 1 Facile Ocean silks Facile Ocean Fox #1 Ciaran Murphy · Eoghan Finegan(5) 2/1
  2. 2 Papagei silks Papagei Fox #3 Thomas Gibney · James Smith(3) 3/1
  3. 3 Lygon Lad silks Lygon Lad Fox #2 Gordon Elliott · Jack Kennedy 9/4
  4. 4 Speakasyoufind silks Speakasyoufind P J Rothwell · Shane O'Callaghan(3) 8/1
  5. 5 Mr Caulfield silks Mr Caulfield Noel C. Kelly · Simon Torrens 10/1

Top 4 — how each finished

  1. 1 Facile Ocean silks Facile Ocean 15/8 SP 2/1J 🏆 WON
  2. 2 Lygon Lad silks Lygon Lad 9/4 🥉 3RD
  3. 3 Papagei silks Papagei 7/2 🥈 2ND