UK Horse Racing Tips: Sligo

This looks to rest between the two Flat winners, Dark Note and Shajak. The former won a Ballinrobe claimer for Joseph O'Brien last summer and was runner-up in a Bellewstown handicap off 72 for present connections. Gradually progressive in four starts over hurdles, his Wexford second was a decent effort, with the winner having shown up well in a couple of strong winter maidens. SHAJAK, though, is rated the best part of 20lb better on the level and was a useful middle-distance performer for Johnny Murtagh last term. He beat smart hurdler My Mate Mozzie in a Tipperary maiden and was third in a Listed race at Leopardstown. Fifth on hurdles debut at Killarney, Jack Kennedy's mount should have learned enough from that to score here. Say It So, not beaten that far on hurdling debut at Roscommon, has a chance of minor honours.
Prediction : 1st Shajak 2nd Dark Note 3rd Say It So

BUKHILL may be able to provide his young rider with a first winner. The half-brother to useful hurdler Mount Windsor was a beaten favourite in two bumper starts for Willie Mullins but ran to a fair level in the context of this race, and there was plenty of encouragement to be derived from his hurdling debut fourth at Punchestown on his first start for Peter Fahey. The Mass Path, fitted with headgear and dropping back in trip, has run reasonably well in a trio of stronger maidens. His mark of 102 makes him one of the main contenders. Mac's Xpress is rated just 2lb lower and was running a decent race when coming down at the last in a Tipperary handicap. He disappointed a few days later at Punchestown but has a chance in a maiden of this standard. The selection's stablemate Artemis Angel was a beaten favourite at this track last time but has place claims on overall form and is now tried in cheekpieces.
Prediction : 1st Bukhill 2nd The Mass Path 3rd Macs Xpress

WE GOT THIS recorded a 100/1 shock on debut in a mares maiden hurdle at Navan in March and the form looks quite solid with the first four pulling clear. The runner-up Broomfield Bijou has won both outings since including a handicap at the Punchestown Festival off a mark of 118 so this initial rating seems fair with the prospect of further improvement to come. The locally-trained Red Ball Of Fire won twice over C&D in 2021 and made a promising return when finishing strongly here on the Flat in May. She was fitted with blinkers for the first time when runner-up at Listowel last time and the booking of Michael O'Sullivan is significant. Nodoubtaboutthat has been lightly raced since winning at the Galway Festival in 2021 and gave some encouragement in two outings last month. Purse Price and Angelsworknovrtime have both been frustrating to follow.
Prediction : 1st We Got This 2nd Red Ball Of Fire 3rd Nodoubtaboutthat

WARM IN GOREY has been in good form this year and opened his account in a lady riders handicap at Punchestown last time. A 5lb rise for that success seems fair enough and the Philip Rothwell-trained gelding appears quite versatile ground wise. Staging Post won a bumper here and, having won a Wexford maiden hurdle, has dropped down to a competitive mark. He filled the runner-up spot in a similar event here last month and is a threat with Michael O'Sullivan taking the ride. The Big Chap has progressed well over the past 14 months scoring twice but ran too bad to be true at Roscommon last month, while Bigz Belief won a claiming hurdle at this venue last month but has since disappointed on the Flat at Limerick.
Prediction : 1st Warm In Gorey 2nd Staging Post 3rd The Big Chap

MACS LADY was worryingly pulled up recently but had previously run well in a useful May handicap. Other than her Limerick run, her profile is poor but the winner of that race was well handicapped, the third and sixth won subsequently, while the fourth, fifth and seventh were each placed next time out. Corkbeg himself disappointed in that Limerick race but won previously and is suited by this distance. Leish Oscars Son was an April point-to-point winner and has place claims, while Bidentime is a 14-race maiden but suffered some interference at the start at Punchestown recently and wasn't beaten too far. In-form Natural Breeze has won just once from 19 runs.
Prediction : 1st Macs Lady 2nd Corkbeg 3rd Leish Oscars Son

IRIDESCENT won a handicap on his fencing debut last month and reverts to hurdles. He has won just twice from 21 hurdle runs but relishes staying distances, competes over his longest trip to date here, and his timber rating is now 8lb below his chase mark. Mister Twist has been running well in handicaps and while 4lb higher than on his last handicap appearance, won a recent maiden hurdle and likes staying distances. Six-time winner Gotthenod is suited by good ground and staying distances but while she was a recent Wexford winner, has yet to win or be placed from today's revised rating. Another recent winner Ballyglass Beauty also stays well but competes from a career-high rating, while Goodnightngodbless hasn't run over hurdles since August 2021. Spring Street was beaten 75 lengths on his latest run but had previously run well in April and steps up in trip in a first-time tongue-tie.
Prediction : 1st Iridescent 2nd Mister Twist 3rd Gotthenod

GIVAGO runs in a tongue-tie on July debut aged five but represents Willie Mullins and is by a sire who the trainer has a good record with and includes State Man and Sharjah. The selection was withdrawn from a French foal sale in 2018, is out of a Grade 2-winning hurdler whose half-brother is smart hunter chaser Vaucelet, and debuts for a leading owner. Arabian Diamond has proven form and while narrowly beaten in Kilbeggan by a Mullins-trained hotpot who had finished fourth at the Punchestown Festival, remains vulnerable to smart newcomers. Mont Beuvray ran well in a useful Curragh winners' bumper last month but might also find a smart type too strong, while Lake Winnipesaukee had bumper form last autumn but needs to improve.
Prediction : 1st Givago 2nd Arabian Diamond 3rd Mont Beuvray