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DNG Nationwide Handicap

13:37 Curragh Thu 15 Oct 2026 0m6f0y Good 13 runners

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Mr Fox’s call

Dark Ace silks

Dark Ace

SPECULATIVE Advised 6/1 Est. 15%

7TH

Mr Fox says

Dark Ace (SR:89, 6/1, 9-5) holds the joint-highest SR in the field alongside Moltophino, but carries 9-5 versus Moltophino's 9-4 — near weight parity — while Dark Ace has DistFit:~ and GoingFit:~ against Moltophino's double negative (DistFit:- GoingFit:- on today's Good going over 6f). Dark Ace has shortened 8% in the market (Mkt:in8%), runs off a mark 6lb below his last win (MarkMv:-6), and connections have identified him as the yard's #1 (Stable:1 with the stronger jockey booking over stablemate Go Athletico). The Curragh form line (W0P1) is modest but his recent 300160 sequence shows a last-run win and the mark drop is a tangible edge in a competitive 6f handicap. Each-way alternative: Nouvel Espoir. Main danger: Chicago Pope — Chicago Pope (SR:88, 8/1) has the second-highest SR in the field, is trained by J.P. Murtagh with Colin Keane-level jockey Ben Coen aboard, has shortened 8% in the market, and his form line 1-2140 includes a win and a runner-up at a higher level — the mark is only 1lb above his last win, making him dangerously well-handicapped if he reproduces that form.

Verify· #23476

Full result

Winner: Unique Journey (IRE) at SP 15/2. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

  1. 1 Unique Journey silks Unique Journey Daniel James Murphy · Terry Casey(7) 10/1
  2. 2 Smoke Them Out silks Smoke Them Out T G McCourt · Sadhbh Tormey(7) 14/1
  3. 3 Moltophino silks Moltophino Fox #4 John Andrew Kinsella · Chris Hayes 9/2
  4. 4 Amiata silks Amiata G. M. Lyons · Colin Keane 17/2
  5. 5 Nouvel Espoir silks Nouvel Espoir Fox #3 James M Barcoe · Julian Pietropaolo(7) 7/1
  6. 6 Keke silks Keke Edward Lynam · Shane Foley 9/1
  7. 7 Dmaniac silks Dmaniac Martin Hassett · Paddy Harnett(3) 16/1
  8. 7 Dark Ace silks Dark Ace Fox #1 Adrian McGuinness · Adam Caffrey 9/2
  9. 9 Go Athletico silks Go Athletico Adrian McGuinness · Gavin Ryan 9/1
  10. 10 The Highway Rat silks The Highway Rat A Oliver · W. J. Lee 18/1
  11. 11 Staysound Susie silks Staysound Susie A. Slattery · Jimmy Dalton(7) 16/1
  12. 12 Chicago Pope silks Chicago Pope Fox #2 J. P. Murtagh · Ben Coen 8/1
  13. 13 Unauthorized silks Unauthorized Aidan Melia · Reese Holohan(5) 20/1

Top 4 — how each finished

  1. 1 Dark Ace silks Dark Ace 6/1 7TH
  2. 2 Chicago Pope silks Chicago Pope 8/1 12TH
  3. 3 Nouvel Espoir silks Nouvel Espoir 6/1 5TH
  4. 4 Moltophino silks Moltophino 4/1 🥉 3RD