UK Horse Racing Tips: Sligo

SHEWEARSITWELL could be a more than useful recruit to the hurdling ranks. She easily won a mares' bumper in Galway by five and a half lengths after making all on debut. Afterwards, Patrick Mullins commented that he thought she could be a black-type mare and mentioned a Listed bumper at Gowran Park in October as a possibility. The fact that she switches to hurdles now looks significant. There was cut in the ground that day in Ballybrit which will serve her well with the amount of rain expected in Sligo. Shirocco is her sire and his progeny have shown an aptitude for soft ground. Joseph O'Brien takes the wraps off Beat Hollow mare Morning Beatrice who is related to several multiple winners, and is certainly interesting. Floating Around was only headed in the closing stages of a mares' maiden hurdle in Cork, so could go well. Robin Des Sivola, in the first-time hood, and Fayetta are others with a shot at prize money.
Prediction : 1st Shewearsitwell 2nd Morning Beatrice 3rd Floating Around

SHE'STHERIGHTONE looks the right one. There was plenty of dig in the ground at Ballinrobe when she took the honours by three lengths last month. That was a good effort from the seven-year-old mare who made light of an absence since October last year. The runner-up came out and comfortably landed a handicap hurdle in Kilbeggan to frank the form. Local trainer Mark McNiff has had four winners in August at the time of writing, so his Mr Moondance merits close scrutiny. He was one of the four winners when making all over a similar trip at this track. Breezy Bell is another recent Ballinrobe winner. She did it nicely by four lengths on good ground. The amount of rain forecast doesn't look to be in her favour, though. Benefit Run switches from steeplechasing and attempts to take advantage of a lower hurdle mark. He won his maiden hurdle at this venue last summer, and is a threat.
Prediction : 1st Shestherightone 2nd Mr Moondance 3rd Breezy Bell

FITNESS DU SUD will handle this rain-softened ground which gives him every chance. He has had three outings in bumpers with his best finishes coming on testing ground when second in Tramore and third at Down Royal. Furthermore, Willie Mullins and Paul Townend have been in irresistible form over the last three weeks. Hesamanofhisword has no less than six placed efforts in hurdle races to his name. He could be the one to take advantage if Fitness Du Sud disappoints on jumping debut. Talk Of The Town appeared to be a big galloping horse when delivering at a price on debut in a Kilbeggan bumper. He then didn't run badly at all when fourth in a maiden hurdle at Galway. He's by an American sire, though, so all of this rain doesn't look ideal. Little Lady Lu is experienced over hurdles. She may find a couple too good, but has a shot at prize money again if the ground doesn't get too deep.
Prediction : 1st Fitness Du Sud 2nd Talk Of The Town 3rd Little Lady Lu

Testing going would bring KLASSY KAY right into it off bottom weight. She showed improvement on very deep ground at Down Royal in March to come home a fair third at 18/1. Derby De Thaix arrives on the back of a runner-up finish over an extended two miles at Ballinrobe. This sort of trip has been his undoing before, though. Galuppi's form can be very hit or miss. He was on a going day when obliging in Cork, but there are no guarantees that he will back that up off 6lbs higher. Perhaps the danger may come from I Will Walk who performed better with first-time cheekpieces applied in Kilbeggan. She kept on without threatening for fourth, and the horse a place in front of her has since won at Tramore.
Prediction : 1st Klassy Kay 2nd Derby De Thaix 3rd I Will Walk

KILGANER QUEEN has an each-way chance. The juice in the ground should aid the 10-year-old mare. Her record at racetracks in Connacht is a remarkable 21121 with the victories coming in Ballinrobe (twice) and here. My Manekineko has been campaigned over fences since January, but has a shot off a lower hurdle rating on ground he will enjoy. The 11-year-old The Trigger was 'in the mix for six' at Tipperary on Monday, but finished well behind in fourth after a slog through tough conditions. He is hard to recommend if reappearing two days later, but deserves enormous praise for his five-timer across handicap hurdles and chases. Lord Lariat didn't perform at all in Limerick after a couple of victories in Tipperary. The handicapper may have him in his grip now, and the five-year-old gelding also wouldn't want deep ground.
Prediction : 1st Kilganer Queen 2nd My Manekineko 3rd The Trigger

WALKING ON GLASS ticks a lot of boxes. He kept on well to land an extended two mile handicap on the flat at Galway, and the form got a boost when the third home also scored at the festival. He has winning form on soft ground, and was runner-up in a three mile handicap hurdle at Punchestown in the winter. He also won on his only previous visit here in an extended two and a half mile handicap hurdle last August. In Your Shadow is up in trip, but running well. His runner-up finish over an extended two miles three furlongs in Kilbeggan has since been endorsed when the third came out and won in Tramore. In Your Shadow doesn't look to be on a bad handicap mark at all. Moyode Gold wants a trip, and ploughs through tough conditions. She should be sharper for her fifth in Galway off a four-month break, and is a major player.
Prediction : 1st Walking On Glass 2nd In Your Shadow 3rd Moyode Gold

Willie Mullins' Shantou gelding ERICA'S JOY was well backed to deliver on debut in Kilbeggan at the end of June, but trailed in well behind the winner. He is highly likely to leave that form in the rear-view mirror, with a first-time tongue-strap. Noel Meade's Famous Name gelding Ben Thomson is well worth a market check. The Greek is another potential improver from a debut eighth on good ground at Roscommon in July. He may not want too much rain, though, as he was a non runner due to yielding (good in places) ground at Roscommon earlier in the month.
Prediction : 1st Ericas Joy 2nd Ben Thomson 3rd The Greek