4:40 Sligo
The 4:40 at Sligo is a 15-runner Brenda Anderson Memorial Handicap Steeplechase over 2m5f27y on good ground. A field mixing fair and useful performers lines up, with KTB Fit Scores tightly bunched between 61 and 37, suggesting a competitive heat where course form, trip suitability and trainer-jockey combinations will carry significant weight. The KTB numbers highlight Island McCoo as the selection with the highest Fit rating, though several others bring placed course form and recent competitiveness.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape points to a lone leader with high confidence, likely leaving one horse clear out front with little pressure. Most of the field, including the top five in the KTB rankings, are held-up types who will be produced late, which sets up a stiff task for closers against an uncontested leader. The key question is whether any of the patient runners can bridge the gap on good ground over this extended trip, or if the front-runner will prove hard to peg back.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Island McCoo KTB Selection61/100
Island McCoo is a fair performer who has shown consistent competitiveness on good ground, placing three times from nine starts. He brings course experience here with a fourth on his only visit and the trainer holds a solid 19% strike rate from 16 runs at Sligo. The jockey's 5% record from 20 rides is more modest though and the horse remains winless in two runs at this trip. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will need the race to fall right given the uncontested lead likely to be set. His recent form figures of 421845 underline a reliable level without quite hitting the top spot. Overall he arrives with the best KTB Fit Score of 61 and is taken to come out on top.
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2Brother Hollie59/100
Brother Hollie is a useful performer who has already shown his liking for this track when finishing a close third here on his only visit. He steps up in trip today having looked stretched at 2m last time, which asks a fresh question of him. The trainer's modest 8% strike rate at Sligo is offset by the jockey's strong 22% record at the track from 32 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be aiming to come from off the pace in a race where the leader may get an easy time. His recent form figures of 67-830 reflect a mixed but not disgraced profile. With a KTB Fit Score of 59 he is firmly in the mix.
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3Andyourbirdcansing58/100
Andyourbirdcansing is a fair performer who has won twice at this track from six runs and arrives in reasonable form after a win earlier this season. He steps up in trip today having failed to place in three previous attempts at this distance, which asks a fresh question. Trainer has a solid 11% strike-rate at Sligo while the jockey is operating above expectations with a 13% record from limited rides here. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will need to find extra if the leader gets away. His recent form figures of 565100 show flashes of ability. Rated with a KTB Fit Score of 58, his course record makes him a notable player.
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4Kalsman53/100
Kalsman is a useful performer with solid recent form including two placed efforts in his last three starts. He has course experience here though failed to complete, while the step up to 2m5f is an unknown that asks a fresh question of him. The trainer has a poor record at Sligo but the jockey is operating at a solid level with an 18% strike rate from 97 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be reliant on the race setup suiting. His recent form figures of 903324 paint a picture of consistent placed form. With a KTB Fit Score of 53 he cannot be ruled out.
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5Poppycon53/100
Poppycon is a useful performer who has shown consistent ability through a string of competitive runs. He has already placed over this course on his only visit and has handled good ground in the past. The step up in trip is an unknown at this stage while the trainer's modest record here adds a note of caution. Typically settling in midfield, he may be better placed than some of the deeper closers if the pace holds up. His recent form figures of F-4200 suggest he remains capable. Carrying a KTB Fit Score of 53, his course placing is a positive.
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6Hurricane Honey51/100
Hurricane Honey is a useful mare who has shown steady placed form without winning. She has been placed both here and at today's trip, though her only good-ground success came from nine attempts. Trainer has a very small sample at Sligo while the jockey's modest strike rate here offers no strong pointer either way.
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7Wing Back50/100
Wing Back is a useful performer who has been below form this season with a string of modest efforts. Only one previous run at Sligo and that was poor, while both trainer and jockey have modest records at the track. Steps up in trip today which asks a fresh question.
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8Cornaroya Rocco46/100
Cornaroya Rocco is a useful performer on the balance of his ratings and recent form figures of 4P2044. He steps up in trip today having never tried beyond 2m2f and has been competitive on good ground without winning. The trainer and jockey both have modest 4% strike rates at Sligo.
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9Swing Time45/100
Swing Time is useful on his day but has been inconsistent and is now 0-11. Looks to have a bit to find on recent efforts even though he drops back in trip and has run over this distance before without success. Trainer's modest 4% strike-rate at Sligo adds to the negatives.
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10Mobile Mamma44/100
Mobile Mamma is a fair performer on the balance of her ratings and recent efforts, finishing third in a handicap at Down Royal last time. She has shown ability on good ground with a win and a placing from five runs, though the drop back from 3m2f to this 2m5f trip asks a fresh question. The trainer's modest 6% strike rate at Sligo is offset by the jockey's solid 15% record here, while first-time headgear is an unknown.
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11Dunany Point43/100
Dunany Point is a fair performer who has placed here before but has failed to win in 20 starts overall. Trainer is 0-7 at Sligo while the jockey has a modest 3% strike-rate from 35 rides at the track. Steps up in trip today with a mixed record on good ground. Tends to make the running or race on the pace and could be the lone leader.
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12Three Tribes42/100
Three Tribes is a modest performer who has won once in ten starts but has been pulled up on three of his last four outings. Drops back in trip today having failed to complete the course on his only previous run at this distance. Trainer has too small a sample at Sligo to judge while the jockey has no recorded rides here.
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13U Asking Me38/100
U Asking Me is a fair performer who has been out of form this season with a string of poor efforts. Drops back in trip today having failed to make an impact at this distance in two previous attempts. Trainer's modest record at Sligo is a negative though the jockey has a solid strike rate here from limited rides.
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14Malton Groove37/100
Malton Groove is a fair sort who has been placed three times on good ground but remains winless after 35 runs. Drops back from 2m7f to a trip he has tried once without success, while making his first appearance at Sligo. Trainer operates at a 4% strike rate here from 67 runs and the jockey is still seeking a first winner from six rides at the track.
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15Set The Tone37/100
Set The Tone is a fair performer who has been in and out this season with a win and a second from his last six starts. Drops back from 2m7f to a trip he has tried three times without success while the yard has yet to strike at Sligo from five runners. Jockey has a 13% strike rate here from 15 rides and the horse is 1-8 on good ground.
KTB verdict
Island McCoo emerges as the KTB Selection with the highest Fit Score and a profile that ties together fair ability, course experience and a trainer who fares well at Sligo. His record of three places from nine starts on good ground and held-up run style fit the shape of a race where the leader may get an easy lead, yet he has the late kick to capitalise if the pace collapses. Main dangers are Brother Hollie, who has already placed over the track, and Andyourbirdcansing, whose two wins here from six runs make him a respected course specialist despite the trip query.
KTB Selection Island McCoo
This is the narrative read of the 4:40 Sligo. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Sligo racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Sligo results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest trainer record at Sligo?
Island McCoo's trainer has a 19% strike rate at Sligo with an A/E of 1.66 from 16 runs.
How many horses in the field are stepping up in trip?
Brother Hollie, Andyourbirdcansing, Kalsman, Poppycon, Wing Back, Cornaroya Rocco, Dunany Point and Set The Tone are all stepping up in trip.
Which horse is likely to make the running?
Dunany Point tends to make the running or race on the pace and fits the lone leader pace shape.
Who has the best jockey record at Sligo among the principals?
Philip Byrnes has a 22% strike rate at Sligo with an A/E of 1.53 from 32 rides when riding Brother Hollie.
Which runners have previously placed at Sligo?
Island McCoo (4th), Brother Hollie (3rd), Andyourbirdcansing (two wins), Poppycon (2nd), Hurricane Honey (2nd), Dunany Point (2nd) and Swing Time (6th) have all placed at the track.
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