5:42 Sligo
The Aidan Moffitt Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Sligo brings together a field of 13 for this 2m1f111y contest on good ground. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with the selection Tradonthebay just edging out Fremantle Doctor, while several others sit in the mid-50s and lower. Overall the numbers point to a competitive, steadily-run handicap where course form, trip suitability and the first-time headgear applied to almost half the field will be key factors.
How the race shapes up
With no obvious leader in the field the pace shape is expected to be tactical and steadily-run, placing a premium on being handy enough to take a position without using up too much energy early. The majority of runners, including all five principals, are held-up types who will be looking to produce their effort from off the pace. The key question is whether those who can get into a good rhythm from midfield or better will hold an edge over the deepest closers in what could turn into a sprint for the line.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Tradonthebay KTB Selection65/100Useful performer who has run well in defeat over this trip before and has already shown his liking for Sligo with a second here.
- 2Fremantle Doctor64/100Useful performer who ran well when second on return at this track last month.
- 3William F Browne59/100Useful performer who has run well enough at this track in the past but was well beaten on his only previous attempt at today's distance.
- 4Bowgate Street56/100Useful performer who has won twice at this track from seven runs and also has two wins at today's trip.
- 5Alentejo56/100Alentejo is a useful performer on ratings and race history yet has failed to show much in four starts this season, finishing a modest ninth when he tried this t…
- 6Wings Of Africa51/100Modest performer who has failed to complete in three of his seven starts and showed little spark when pulled up last time.
- 7Tomas O Maille50/100Tomas O Maille is a fair performer who has been placed at this trip without winning.
- 8High Honour49/100Useful performer who has won over this trip in the past and showed a liking for the track when successful here from two starts.
- 9Invincible Oscar46/100Invincible Oscar is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history.
- 10Granlahan44/100Granlahan is a fair performer who has been placed on four of his last six starts including a third here over this trip on good ground.
- 11Urban War41/100Urban War is a fair performer on his best days but arrives in poor form having finished well down the field on his last five starts.
- 12Tasmanian Girl41/100Tasmanian Girl is a fair mare who has shown only modest form this season and was well beaten on her only previous run at Sligo.
- 13Calm Flight Ahead37/100Fair performer who has been well held in all five starts and was pulled up on latest outing.
The contenders
Tradonthebay KTB Fit 65/100
Tradonthebay is a useful performer who has run well in defeat over this trip before and has already shown his liking for Sligo with a second here. He has been placed twice on good ground and the yard’s respectable record at the track adds some confidence. First-time headgear is now tried after a string of ordinary efforts. The five-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late. Trainer Paul John Gilligan has a 10% strike rate at Sligo with an A/E of 1.03 from 173 runs while jockey Danny Gilligan boasts a 25% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.8 from 40 rides.
Fremantle Doctor KTB Fit 64/100
Fremantle Doctor is a useful performer who ran well when second on return at this track last month. He has placed twice on good ground without winning and steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge over this distance on his only previous attempt. First-time headgear is now applied. The eight-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late. Trainer John C McConnell has a 9% strike rate at Sligo with an A/E of 0.82 from 156 runs while jockey Patrick M O'Brien has a 13% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.39 from 23 rides.
William F Browne KTB Fit 59/100
William F Browne is a useful performer who has run well enough at this track in the past but was well beaten on his only previous attempt at today's distance. He has shown very little in four starts this year and now tries headgear for the first time. Trainer has a solid record at Sligo while the 3 lb claimer is yet to ride a winner here from only a handful of rides. The four-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late. Trainer Paul W Flynn has a 15% strike rate at Sligo with an A/E of 1.27 from 92 runs while jockey Josh Williamson has a 15% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.54 from 13 rides.
Bowgate Street KTB Fit 56/100
Bowgate Street is a useful performer who has won twice at this track from seven runs and also has two wins at today's trip. He drops back from 2m3f while wearing headgear for the first time, which adds an unknown element. Trainer's modest 8% strike rate at Sligo is offset by a solid A/E of 1.07. The seven-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late. Jockey Darragh O'Keeffe has an 8% strike rate at Sligo with an A/E of 0.63 from 104 rides.
Alentejo KTB Fit 56/100
Alentejo is a useful performer on ratings and race history yet has failed to show much in four starts this season, finishing a modest ninth when he tried this track on his latest visit. He drops back in trip today having achieved little in three previous runs at the distance. First-time headgear is now fitted while the trainer holds an 8% strike rate from 283 runs at Sligo. The five-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late. Jockey Alan King has a 13% strike rate at Sligo with an A/E of 1.82 from 30 rides.
The rest of the field
Wings Of AfricaKTB Fit 51/100
Wings Of Africa is a modest performer who has failed to complete in three of his seven starts and showed little spark when pulled up last time. He steps up in trip today having been well held over shorter on his only previous attempt at this distance. Trainer has a solid 17% strike rate at Sligo from 18 runs.
Tomas O MailleKTB Fit 50/100
Tomas O Maille is a fair performer who has been placed at this trip without winning. He has run seven times at Sligo for a third but no victory and his recent form of 0-9P9P is patchy at best. The trainer holds an 8 percent strike rate from 117 runs here while the horse is 1-14 on good ground.
High HonourKTB Fit 49/100
High Honour is a useful performer who has won over this trip in the past and showed a liking for the track when successful here from two starts. He has been out of form for a while now and is zero from eleven on good ground. Trainer's modest record at Sligo adds little encouragement.
Invincible OscarKTB Fit 46/100
Invincible Oscar is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history. He steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in two previous attempts at this distance. The trainer holds a solid 15% strike rate at Sligo from 87 runs.
GranlahanKTB Fit 44/100
Granlahan is a fair performer who has been placed on four of his last six starts including a third here over this trip on good ground. He drops back in distance today having been out of the frame when stepped up last time and his overall record shows he is better at this sort of trip. The trainer's modest 6% strike-rate at Sligo is a negative.
Urban WarKTB Fit 41/100
Urban War is a fair performer on his best days but arrives in poor form having finished well down the field on his last five starts. He steps up markedly in trip today having been campaigned over much shorter recently and tries headgear for the first time. The trainer's modest 4% strike rate at Sligo from 96 runs adds little encouragement.
Tasmanian GirlKTB Fit 41/100
Tasmanian Girl is a fair mare who has shown only modest form this season and was well beaten on her only previous run at Sligo. She steps up in trip today having failed to place in ten previous attempts at this distance, and her record on good ground is limited to a single placed effort from twenty starts. First-time headgear is now tried while the yard's modest 6% strike rate at the track adds little encouragement.
Calm Flight AheadKTB Fit 37/100
Calm Flight Ahead is a fair performer who has been well held in all five starts and was pulled up on latest outing. He drops back in trip today to a distance he has never tried, which asks a fresh question, while first-time headgear is also an unknown. Trainer's modest record at Sligo offers little encouragement.
KTB verdict
Tradonthebay is the KTB Selection. He brings solid course form with a second at Sligo, has run well over this trip in the past, and is placed on good ground while the yard's respectable record at the track adds confidence; first-time headgear now offers a chance to sharpen him up after some ordinary efforts. Fremantle Doctor looks the most obvious danger having run well when second here last month and also wearing first-time headgear, though stepping up in trip introduces a question mark. Bowgate Street and Alentejo cannot be dismissed either given their ability on ratings and respective course records, while the remainder of the field largely arrive in modest or patchy form.
KTB Selection Tradonthebay
This is the narrative read of the 5:42 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
Why is first-time headgear so prevalent in this race?
First-time headgear is applied to Tradonthebay, Fremantle Doctor, William F Browne, Bowgate Street, Alentejo, Urban War, Tasmanian Girl and Calm Flight Ahead.
Which horse has the strongest course record at Sligo?
Bowgate Street has won twice at this track from seven runs, while Tradonthebay has a second here and High Honour has also won here.
How does the steadily-run pace shape affect the held-up runners?
In a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays, the many held-up types may need to be closer to the pace than usual to avoid giving too much ground in the sprint to the line.
Which trainers have the best strike rates at Sligo in this field?
W J Lanigan has a 17% strike rate at Sligo from 18 runs, Noel C Kelly has 15%, and Paul W Flynn has 15%.
Which horses are stepping up in trip for this contest?
Fremantle Doctor, Wings Of Africa, Invincible Oscar, Urban War and Tasmanian Girl are all stepping up in trip.
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