UK Horse Racing Tips: Sligo

CALL OF THE JUNGLE has placed form on rain-softened ground and looks the one to beat. After a runner-up finish at Listowel in September, she signed off for the last campaign in October with a third place in Limerick. She should be all the better for her unplaced run on seasonal debut at Leopardstown on fast ground. Gulf Of Aidan showed much more ability when third over six furlongs in Naas. She had a first-time tongue-strap which is retained for this assignment. Jockey Billy Lee has had a very good June, and will be targeting another victory with this filly. Forcing tactics saw 200/1 shot Lough Swilly Pearl run well for a long way over an extended seven furlongs at Tipperary. She was ultimately caught inside the final furlong by the easy winner, but you could envisage the same tactics being employed again over this shorter trip.
Prediction : 1st Call Of The Jungle 2nd Gulf Of Aidan 3rd Lough Swilly Pearl

LILANDRA will be a prohibitive price but is very hard to get away from. She had clearly been showing up well at home as she went off 7/4 joint favourite to make a winning debut in Fairyhouse. She pressed the winner to the line there, but gave best by half a length. Granted normal improvement, she should be very hard to beat. The one caveat is that her sire is Equiano and his progeny prefer better ground. The going at the time of writing of yielding, yielding to soft in places ought to be okay but if it deteriorated, particularly to heavy, that would be a concern. Clear Quartz was supported at fancy prices when fifth in Tipperary. He has a lovely draw in stall one and Dylan Browne McMonagle is value for his 7lb claim. The pair could go well for a long way. John Oxx's I Know I Can put in some useful late work to finish eighth on debut in a big field at Navan and can build upon that.
Prediction : 1st Lilandra 2nd Clear Quartz 3rd I Know I Can

There are ground concerns over several of these. One who goes well on rain-softened ground is MI ESPERANZA. She won a sprint handicap at Tipperary in June after which her trainer, Andrew Kinsella, said that she needs soft ground. She was then fourth on better ground at Navan less than a week later. She has a low draw to mount her challenge from and a 7lb claimer booked to bring her down to a 'fighting weight'. Pretty Smart signalled a return to form when third at Fairyhouse. She will likely be played late from the outside draw and can make her presence felt. Jack Davison's horses earn their keep, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Glow Worm get in the money, particularly after a decent runner-up berth in Limerick. Powersville is one from one in a sprint at this track, and any drying ground would be in her favour.
Prediction : 1st Mi Esperanza 2nd Pretty Smart 3rd Glow Worm

The ingredients look right for a big run from FOOL PROOF. He didn't land a blow on the winner, Lady Maura, at Navan but kept on to get up for second. That winner appears destined for better things, so it is probably fair form. He handles give in the ground and has the best draw in stall one. In addition, Dylan Browne McMonagle, who has a good book of rides on this card, claims off him. Lady Alcazar was only a head off Fool Proof in third at Navan, so has to rate a threat especially as that was her first race on turf, having been extensively campaigned at Dundalk. All About Ivy was fourth in that race at Navan and may need to find a bit more. Talking Tough isn't out of it after being placed over a mile in Limerick on Monday.
Prediction : 1st Fool Proof 2nd Lady Alcazar 3rd All About Ivy

It is reasonable to assume there is more in JAN WELLENS now that he has got his head in front. When he won in Roscommon by a neck, over 10 furlongs, connections said they could up him in trip anytime, and that he loved the yielding ground. He gets an extended mile and a half here on rain-softened ground, and this seems an ideal opportunity for him to follow up. Credible alternatives are thin on the ground, however, Little Brother should run his race. He finished just over three lengths behind Jan Wellens in third at Roscommon, and it is worth noting that he was loose before the start. He had been a close third at Roscommon on his penultimate start as well.
Prediction : 1st Jan Wellens 2nd Little Brother 3rd Jeff Kidder

There is no doubting that Rocky Blue looks attractively handicapped off 71 on the Flat as a Grade 2 winner over hurdles. The worry is that he hasn't been seen in over 550 days after that graded success in Leopardstown. His last outing on the level came in September 2018 when he hosed up by eight lengths in a mile and six handicap at Navan. He is hard to put forward coming off such a break, though. HARVEST BOW likes easy ground and was far from disgraced in sixth in a better class of race at the Curragh on Sunday. If recovered from those exertions, this stayer should be coming home stronger than most. Take A Turn was a promising third at Fairyhouse in mid-June and has won over hurdles at this track. He is far from out of it. Sicario would be welcome winner for local trainer Mark McNiff and looks best of the rest.
Prediction : 1st Harvest Bow 2nd Rocky Blue 3rd Take A Turn

KELLS is worthy of support on this step up in trip. The form of his fifth place over a mile in Gowran Park is working out well. The winner subsequently ran a cracker in second behind a hot favourite on Irish Derby weekend at the Curragh, while the runner-up came out and shed his maiden tag at Roscommon. Lilli Milena has an Irish Oaks entry. Her fifth behind subsequent Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Peaceful on debut at Thurles last October was a fair effort. She didn't build on it when occupying the same position at Navan last month, but the suspicion is that there is more to come from her. Born To Rule has shown ability in three maidens and the Born To Sea gelding, who has a rating of 76, ought to get in the mix.
Prediction : 1st Kells 2nd Lilli Milena 3rd Born To Rule