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M6Toll Road To Victory Handicap Stakes (Div I)

14:17 Haydock Fri 16 Oct 2026 7f212y Class 3 Heavy 10 runners

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Mr Fox’s call

Desperate Dan silks

Desperate Dan

SPECULATIVE Advised 9/4 Est. 30%

6TH

Mr Fox says

Desperate Dan (SR:94, 9/4) is the standout SR in the field and the only runner proven on heavy going (GoingFit:+), which is a crucial filter on a day when the ground will mercilessly expose horses without that evidence. He drops a class (ClassMv:↓1), carries a manageable 9-9, and a 26% market move in (Mkt:in26%) confirms significant support — the strongest steaming in the field. The MarkMv:+2 is negligible and the trainer Chapple-Hyam (15%) with Ghiani (16%) is a competent booking. The recent form showing a '4' last time is the one concern, but the heavy-ground fit separates him meaningfully from the field. Each-way alternative: Empirestateofmind. Main danger: Empirestateofmind — Empirestateofmind (SR:91, 15/2) has proven heavy-ground form (GoingFit:+), a course placing (Course:W0P1), a recent 001212 form string showing strong progression, and carries the lightest weight in the field at 9-0 — a real lbs advantage that could matter in a stamina test on heavy going over nearly a mile.

Verify· #23663

Full result

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

  1. 1 Viper silks Viper Fox #3 Brian Ellison · Rowan Scott 11/2
  2. 2 On The River silks On The River Harriet Bethell · Oisin McSweeney 12/1
  3. 3 Empirestateofmind silks Empirestateofmind Fox #2 John & Sean Quinn · Jason Hart 5/1
  4. 4 Tina's Indian silks Tina's Indian Brian Toomey · Tom Marquand 25/1
  5. 5 Food For Thought silks Food For Thought Ralph Beckett · Hector Crouch 13/2
  6. 6 Desperate Dan silks Desperate Dan Fox #1 Peter Chapple-Hyam · Marco Ghiani 9/4
  7. 7 Empire of Light silks Empire of Light Grant Tuer · Oliver Stammers 14/1
  8. 8 Monoceros silks Monoceros Fox #4 Iain Jardine · Billy Loughnane 9/2
  9. 9 Rajapour silks Rajapour David O'Meara · Mark Winn 22/1
  10. 10 Sujet silks Sujet Declan Carroll · Zak Wheatley 66/1

Top 4 — how each finished

  1. 1 Desperate Dan silks Desperate Dan 9/4 6TH
  2. 2 Empirestateofmind silks Empirestateofmind 15/2 🥉 3RD
  3. 3 Viper silks Viper 11/2 SP 11/2 🏆 WON
  4. 4 Monoceros silks Monoceros 11/2 8TH