Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes (Group 3)

13:53 Curragh Sat 29 Aug 2026 1m0f0y Class 1 Good 10 runners

Mr Fox’s call

So Lovely

HIGH Advised 11/8 Est. 38%

6TH

Mr Fox says

So Lovely (SR 115, 11/8) is the class standout in this field by a clear margin — 11 SR points above the next-best Bellesque (SR 104) and 21 above Samnina (SR 94). The form reads 2-2-1 with a recent win just 9 days ago, confirming peak freshness rather than fatigue, and she steps up one class tier with Ryan Moore retained — a booking that at 27% career strike rate is the strongest jockey signal in the field. The market has shortened 12% to 11/8, confirming stable and market confidence. DistFit confirmed (+) at a mile and AP O'Brien's 22% trainer strike rate is the best in the field; with Exceptionally drifting 59% and Speckles drifting 20%, So Lovely is clearly the yard's number-one shot. Each-way alternative: Samnina. Main danger: Bellesque — Bellesque (SR 104, 7/2) has proven distance and going credentials (DistFit:+ GoingFit:+), solid 2-1-3 form at the same class level, and Joseph O'Brien's stable-pick jockey Declan McDonogh retained — a slight drift to 7/2 is the only caution but the distance/going double-fit makes her the most credible threat to So Lovely.

Verify· #14844

Full result

Winner: Sea Of Rain (IRE) at SP 18/1. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

1 Sea Of Rain J S Bolger · Colin Keane 25/1
2 Ballyskeagh Joseph Patrick O'Brien · Chris Hayes 16/1
3 Damsel In Distress Fox #4 Daniel McLoughlin · Ben Coen 12/1
4 Exceptionally A P O'Brien · Wayne Lordan 12/1
5 Speckles A P O'Brien · Ronan Whelan 14/1
6 So Lovely Fox #1 A P O'Brien · Ryan Moore 5/4
7 Tosca No Candis Robson De Aguiar · W J Lee 25/1
8 Bellesque Fox #2 Joseph Patrick O'Brien · Declan McDonogh 10/3
9 Sword Of State Brendan W Duke · Rory Cleary 80/1
10 Samnina Fox #3 Mrs John Harrington · Shane Foley 5/1

Top 4 — how each finished

1 So Lovely 11/8 6TH
2 Bellesque 7/2 8TH
3 Samnina 5/1 10TH
4 Damsel In Distress 16/1 🥉 3RD