4:00 Sligo
The 4:00 at Sligo is the Kilcawley Construction Handicap Hurdle (0-100) Division Two, a competitive 18-runner contest over 2m4f116y on good to firm ground. The KTB Fit ratings identify a clutch of useful performers at the head of the field, with Go To Town heading the numbers on 66, closely followed by Lilac Lady, Cherry Red, Ladiam and Fine Print all in the low-to-mid 60s. Several runners step up in trip while the majority remain unproven on good to firm, adding layers of uncertainty to a race where course form and recent consistency will be key.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape suggests a truly run affair with a mix of run-styles on show. Go To Town and Lilac Lady both tend to race prominently, while Cherry Red and Ladiam can also be forward going, setting up a strong early gallop. The key question is whether the leaders can maintain their advantage up the hill or if the race will fall into the hands of those coming from off the pace, particularly with several unproven on the ground and stepping up markedly in distance.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Go To Town KTB Selection66/100Go To Town is a useful performer who has been consistent enough in recent starts without landing a blow.
- 2Lilac Lady63/100Lilac Lady is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form at this track and arrives in decent nick after two seconds this season.
- 3Cherry Red62/100Useful performer who won over hurdles here on his only previous visit to Sligo.
- 4Ladiam60/100Useful performer who has won twice at this track and twice at today's trip.
- 5Fine Print56/100Fine Print is a fair performer who showed a bit more spark when fourth on return at this track last month.
- 6Papagei51/100Papagei is a useful performer who arrives in decent form having shown his best this year when fourth over 3m at Down Royal last time.
- 7Cornaroya Rocco50/100Useful performer who has shown ability on his better days but has been inconsistent overall with a recent pull-up and patchy form figures.
- 8Saint Peregrine49/100Saint Peregrine is a fair performer who has shown his best form at this track with two runner-up finishes from five runs.
- 9Poppycon48/100Poppycon is a useful performer who has placed once in two starts at this trip.
- 10Poetic Focus48/100Poetic Focus is a fair sort who has shown bits and pieces this year but finished well held on his last two starts.
- 11Mother Ship46/100Mother Ship is a fair performer who has shown some ability at this trip, placing twice without winning.
- 12Sekifi45/100Modest performer who has struggled to make an impact in recent starts and now tries first-time headgear.
- 13Finnicky Filly45/100Finnicky Filly is a fair performer who has been consistent enough without winning lately, placing second on one of her last five starts.
- 14Frontier Rose45/100Frontier Rose is a fair maiden who has shown very little in nine starts, with a string of poor efforts including two heavy defeats this season.
- 15Larkins Lane44/100Larkins Lane is a fair performer who arrives in form after two recent wins and has already shown his liking for this track with a victory from his only start he…
- 16Tellmemamema39/100Fair performer who has shown a bit more spark in two runs this year after a lengthy break.
- 17Mr Erwitt39/100Mr Erwitt is a fair performer who has shown little for his new yard this year and was pulled up on his last two starts.
- 18Dream Shaper37/100Dream Shaper is a fair performer who has shown little spark in recent starts and finished a remote seventh on his only previous visit to Sligo.
The contenders
Go To Town KTB Fit 66/100
Go To Town is a useful performer who has been consistent enough in recent starts without landing a blow. He steps up in trip today having looked stretched at 2m last time and remains unproven on good to firm ground. The trainer holds a solid 14 percent strike rate at Sligo while the jockey is operating at a strong 27 percent here. Recent form reads 440-04 and he comes into the race with a KTB Fit Score of 66. The combination of the yard's local record and the jockey's excellent course strike rate of 27 percent from 37 rides makes him a major player if he handles the conditions.
Lilac Lady KTB Fit 63/100
Lilac Lady is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form at this track and arrives in decent nick after two seconds this season. The step up in trip is an unknown and she has never tackled good to firm ground so both represent fresh questions today. First-time headgear is also applied while the trainer's modest 8 percent strike rate at Sligo adds a note of caution. She has been placed on four of her six visits to the track and her recent form of 353-24 underlines her solidity at this level. With a KTB Fit Score of 63 she is one of the principals but those unknowns around trip and ground temper expectations.
Cherry Red KTB Fit 62/100
Cherry Red is a useful performer who won over hurdles here on his only previous visit to Sligo. He showed little on his first two chase starts before bouncing back with a convincing point success last month. Steps up in trip today and the small amount of going data available makes the ground an unknown. His course record stands at one win from one run and recent form is P/U-P1. Rated with a KTB Fit Score of 62, he brings obvious course confidence although the switch back to hurdles and the step up in distance introduce fresh tests.
Ladiam KTB Fit 60/100
Ladiam is a useful performer who has won twice at this track and twice at today's trip. Recent form is a bit patchy but the course record gives him a solid chance if the first-time headgear helps him bounce back. Unproven on good to firm ground remains the main question mark. He has a strong record here of two wins from six runs and his form reads 237-55. With a KTB Fit Score of 60 the nine-year-old cannot be dismissed, particularly if the new headgear sparks a revival on a track he clearly likes.
Fine Print KTB Fit 56/100
Fine Print is a fair performer who showed a bit more spark when fourth on return at this track last month. He has placed here before but steps up markedly in trip today while tackling good to firm ground for the first time, both unknowns. First-time headgear is now applied by a trainer with a modest 9 percent strike rate at Sligo. His recent form is 9078-4 and he carries a KTB Fit Score of 56. The placed effort on his only previous course visit adds some appeal but the combination of the trip increase, new ground and yard's modest local record suggest he has questions to answer.
The rest of the field
PapageiKTB Fit 51/100
Papagei is a useful performer who arrives in decent form having shown his best this year when fourth over 3m at Down Royal last time. He drops back in trip today to a distance at which he has been beaten twice before and makes his first appearance at Sligo. The trainer has an 8% strike rate from 40 runs at the track while the 7lb claimer has yet to ride a winner here. Recent form reads 7F5-4 and his KTB Fit Score is 51.
Cornaroya RoccoKTB Fit 50/100
Cornaroya Rocco is a useful performer who has shown ability on his better days but has been inconsistent overall with a recent pull-up and patchy form figures. Steps up in trip today having failed to make an impact in one previous try at this distance. Trainer's modest 4% strike rate at Sligo from a big sample adds a note of caution. His form is P65-4P and KTB Fit is 50.
Saint PeregrineKTB Fit 49/100
Saint Peregrine is a fair performer who has shown his best form at this track with two runner-up finishes from five runs. He steps up in trip today having been well held on his most recent starts and remains unproven on good to firm ground. The trainer has a solid 10% strike rate here while the jockey's 6% record is more modest. Form reads 37F0-0 with a KTB Fit Score of 49.
PoppyconKTB Fit 48/100
Poppycon is a useful performer who has placed once in two starts at this trip. The first-time headgear is an interesting addition after a solid fourth on return from a break. Trainer Eoin Doyle has a 4% strike rate from 75 runs at Sligo. Recent form is 082F-4 and his KTB Fit Score stands at 48.
Poetic FocusKTB Fit 48/100
Poetic Focus is a fair sort who has shown bits and pieces this year but finished well held on his last two starts. He is unproven on good to firm and has failed to land a blow in five runs at this trip. The yard and jockey both operate at a 10% strike rate here. Form reads 4F0-75 with a KTB Fit of 48.
Mother ShipKTB Fit 46/100
Mother Ship is a fair performer who has shown some ability at this trip, placing twice without winning. He has placed once from two runs at Sligo but his recent form is modest and the trainer's record here is poor at 4% from 94 runs. First-time headgear is now fitted as he attempts good to firm ground for the first time. Form is 2P5-88 and KTB Fit is 46.
SekifiKTB Fit 45/100
Sekifi is a modest performer who has struggled to make an impact in recent starts and now tries first-time headgear. Steps up in trip having failed to trouble the judge in three previous attempts at this distance while the lack of experience on good to firm ground adds an unknown. Trainer has a solid 12 percent strike rate at Sligo from 42 runs. Recent form reads 086-05 with a KTB Fit Score of 45.
Finnicky FillyKTB Fit 45/100
Finnicky Filly is a fair performer who has been consistent enough without winning lately, placing second on one of her last five starts. The trainer has a solid 10 percent strike rate from 269 runs at Sligo while the jockey is making his first appearance here. She remains unproven on good to firm ground and has failed to land a blow in two previous runs at this trip. Form is 2-6565 and KTB Fit is 45.
Frontier RoseKTB Fit 45/100
Frontier Rose is a fair maiden who has shown very little in nine starts, with a string of poor efforts including two heavy defeats this season. The yard has a modest 5% strike rate at Sligo from 22 runs while the jockey is 8% from 95 rides here, neither of which inspires confidence. He steps up markedly in trip today having been unproven on good to firm ground. Form reads 090-08 with a KTB Fit of 45.
Larkins LaneKTB Fit 44/100
Larkins Lane is a fair performer who arrives in form after two recent wins and has already shown his liking for this track with a victory from his only start here. He has won twice at today's trip from four attempts and the recent form suggests he remains competitive at this level. The yard's modest record at Sligo is a negative and he is completely unproven on good to firm ground. Form is 58-911 and KTB Fit Score is 44.
TellmemamemaKTB Fit 39/100
Tellmemamema is a fair performer who has shown a bit more spark in two runs this year after a lengthy break. Recent efforts of fourth and fifth suggest he is competitive at this level but he has failed to land a blow at this trip so far. Trainer and jockey are both making their first appearance at Sligo. Form reads 800-45 with a KTB Fit of 39.
Mr ErwittKTB Fit 39/100
Mr Erwitt is a fair performer who has shown little for his new yard this year and was pulled up on his last two starts. He ran respectably when fourth over this trip on his only visit to Sligo but has failed to place in three runs at the distance overall. The trainer's modest 4% strike rate from 211 runs at the track adds little encouragement. Form is 049PP- and KTB Fit is 39.
Dream ShaperKTB Fit 37/100
Dream Shaper is a fair performer who has shown little spark in recent starts and finished a remote seventh on his only previous visit to Sligo. The trainer's modest 2% strike rate from 48 runs at the track adds little confidence while the switch to good to firm ground is an unknown as he has never tackled it. First-time headgear is now tried as he steps up in trip. Recent form is 070F9- with a KTB Fit Score of 37.
KTB verdict
Go To Town looks the most solid option in a race full of unknowns around trip and ground. The selection has been consistent without winning lately, steps up in distance having looked stretched at two miles last time, and benefits from a trainer with a 14 percent strike rate at Sligo allied to a jockey who is 27 percent here from 37 rides. His KTB Fit Score of 66 tops the field and he can put his useful level of form to good use if he handles the good to firm surface. The main dangers are Lilac Lady, who has strong placed form at the track and now tries first-time headgear, and Cherry Red, who won over hurdles here on his only previous visit. Ladiam and Fine Print add further depth but both carry their own questions.
KTB Selection Go To Town
This is the narrative read of the 4:00 Sligo. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Sligo racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the highest KTB Fit Score and what is it?
Go To Town has the highest KTB Fit Score of 66.
How many times has Lilac Lady been placed at Sligo?
Lilac Lady has been placed four times from six runs at Sligo.
What is Cherry Red's course record at Sligo?
Cherry Red has a course record of one win from one run at Sligo.
Which principals are wearing first-time headgear?
Lilac Lady, Ladiam and Fine Print are all wearing first-time headgear.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Sligo among those with principals?
Ross O'Sullivan has a 14 percent strike rate at Sligo.
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