UK Horse Racing Tips: Sligo

MAJESTIC JEWEL won over 2m at Tramore last summer and wasn't beaten far in a couple of staying handicaps afterwards. She hasn't made much impact over hurdles and dropping into a claimer on the level might be her best chance of another victory. She has every chance at the weights and has Colin Keane's assistance for the first time. Big Challenge won this last year when under the care of James McAuley and landed another claimer at Ballinrobe in July. He has struggled in handicaps this term but has to be respected in a race that will take little winning. McAuley is represented on this occasion by Gamigin who won a claimer here over a shorter trip last August. He ran creditably over hurdles a couple of times earlier in the year and was a fair fifth in a Gowran handicap on his latest Flat start.
Prediction : 1st Majestic Jewel 2nd Big Challenge 3rd Gamigin

Gary Carroll rides Sligo brilliantly and it would be no surprise if he tries to make all on MESSA CONCERTATA. The Ardad filly won a maiden over 5f at Tipperary in April and made a bold bid from the front before fading into fourth in a Gowran handicap last time. That was over 7f and she might be able to last home over this shorter trip. Shoebox King is best-treated at these weights and has been placed in three maidens. He was in front of the selection when sixth in a Naas handicap in early May. Band Width finished last of all in that Naas contest having won a C&D maiden just a few days earlier. Maybe that quick reappearance was too much for him and he could bounce back. Gallow Hill had three engagements on this card and her trainer has opted for this one. She split two subsequent winners when third over C&D last month and merits respect on that form.
Prediction : 1st Messa Concertata 2nd Shoebox King 3rd Gallow Hill

A winner at Fairyhouse last year, CNODIAN was a fine second at the same track on last month's seasonal debut and has since gone one better at Limerick. She's down in trip about a furlong but travelled well throughout last time and it shouldn't be an issue. She was good value for her latest success and can defy a 5lb hike. Craft Irish won an all-weather maiden over 7f in the spring and was a good fourth over that trip in a higher grade of handicap at Limerick on Friday. Jake Coen's claim will help but she may find things happening a bit too quickly over this shorter distance. Cherry Bloom's latest run in a race started by flag at Fairyhouse can be ignored and she had been touched off there the time before. A consistent type, she's well drawn and should be thereabouts again. Lopes Gold comes into this on the back of a couple of solid efforts in maidens and is another in the mix.
Prediction : 1st Cnodian 2nd Craft Irish 3rd Cherry Bloom

INVENTOR was a winner over the minimum distance at Tipperary last season and may be able to get a second win on the board. The five-year-old has been very consistent in defeat this term and was a close third over C&D in May. Last time he was fifth to Cnodian at Limerick where the extended 6f trip appeared to stretch his stamina. He'll be better suited by this distance and has the inside stall. Celtic Manor had placed form off marks in the high 70s a couple of years ago and made a good start for new connections when landing a few bets over C&D last month. He's been eased 3lb to a mark of 62 after his unplaced run at Fairyhouse and looks a big player in a race lacking depth. Fit For Function is hard to fancy on recent efforts but has fallen to a very low mark and has both headgear and Gary Carroll's assistance for the first time this year. He was narrowly beaten in a division of this handicap a year ago.
Prediction : 1st Inventor 2nd Celtic Manor 3rd Fit For Function

RED BALL OF FIRE looks poised to strike for local trainer Mark McNiff. Twice a winner over hurdles here last year, she ran a cracker over C&D last month when staying on well for third in a much better class of handicap. She was wrong at the weights that day so can actually race off a 3lb lower mark and showed she's still in good form when second over hurdles at Downpatrick just over a week ago. Star Official, now with his fourth different trainer, made a promising start for new connections when third at Gowran earlier this month. He stayed on well over a furlong shorter on that occasion, so the trip should suit and it's the first time that he's been eligible to run in this lower grade of handicap. Grace Solution had Intend a place behind when fifth in a big field at Navan and Jake Coen's 7lb claim could enable her to be very competitive. Complete Fiction sprang a surprise over 1m1f at Leopardstown but may struggle to defy an 8lb hike.
Prediction : 1st Red Ball Of Fire 2nd Star Official 3rd Gracesolution

SELADOR has run in maidens won by two useful fillies and can capitalise on what looks an easier opportunity. The Dark Angel filly was second at Dundalk on debut and then travelled well before not finding as much as looked likely when seventh at Cork. The winners of those two maidens finished third and fifth in the recent Group 3 Munster Oaks at Cork and Joseph O'Brien's filly may have a class edge over these rivals. The form figures of Not Uncertain don't inspire confidence but she was only eight lengths off subsequent Oaks winner Tuesday on debut over 1m at Naas. She didn't build on that when mid-division at Gowran but three maiden winners have come out of that race and the Deep Impact filly may well do better over this longer trip. Santa Catarina has been placed twice from three starts but was beaten over 12 lengths when third at Gowran last time and minor money may be the best she can hope for again. Ms Eagleton would be a contender if lining up but is due to run at Ballinrobe on Monday.
Prediction : 1st Selador 2nd Not Uncertain 3rd Santa Catarina