Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden (Smullen Series)

14:12 Curragh Thu 15 Oct 2026 1m0f0y Good 17 runners

Mr Fox’s call

Lunar Empress

MEDIUM Advised 13/8 Est. 36%

🥈 2ND

Mr Fox says

Lunar Empress (SR 96, 13/8) is the market's clear choice and that confidence is well-founded: she is the only runner with a meaningful race record (2542 form, finishing 2nd twice and 4th twice) in a field dominated by maidens and debutants, giving her an enormous experience edge. She carries 8-13 — a full stone lighter than the O'Brien pair — and that weight advantage is material on good ground over a mile. Jessica Harrington's 11% strike rate with Shane Foley (11% career, 1,786 runners) is a strong professional pairing, and the cheekpieces (HG:p) suggest connections have fine-tuned her for this assignment. With DistFit:~ confirming a moderate but workable record at the trip, and no obvious market drift to worry about, she is the likeliest winner by a clear margin. Each-way alternative: Ocean Phoenix. Main danger: Maximilien Luce — Maximilien Luce (SR 140, 8/1) is Aidan O'Brien's first string based on jockey booking (Lordan over Cleary) and has the second-highest SR in the field, so a debut improvement from his opening '0' run cannot be ruled out.

Verify· #23489

Full result

Winner: Even Par (IRE) at SP 25/1. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.