2:35 Sligo
The Callan Tansey Handicap Hurdle (Division II) at Sligo brings together a field of 13 for this 2m1f158y contest on good to yielding ground. KTB's Fit Scores identify a clear top five, headed by Oh So Charming on 73, with the next four all rated in the mid-60s or above, while the remainder of the field sits in the low-to-mid 50s and below. Several runners have shown prior ability at this venue, and with a strong pace anticipated the race is set to test stamina and positioning in the straight.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is likely given the presence of two or more habitual front-runners, with Lilac Lady and Andyourbirdcansing both tending to make the running or race prominently. Bowgate Street is also usually to the fore, racing handily, which should ensure an honest gallop that has the potential to collapse late in the contest. This shape would favour horses with a held-up style who can produce their effort from off the pace, posing the key question of whether any prominent runners can withstand the late challengers once the pace tells.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Oh So Charming KTB Selection73/100
Oh So Charming arrives as KTB's top-rated on 73 and is the selection. A useful performer, he has already won once at this track from two runs and holds an official rating of 98. He has a win at today's trip on his record and, although stepping up in distance from 1m4f, the family line and ratings suggest he should cope. The trainer's 8% strike rate at Sligo from 26 runs is in line with his record elsewhere, while the jockey posts a 25% strike rate here from 20 rides which is above his 8% at other tracks. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and his recent form reads 52501F.
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2Bowgate Street67/100
Bowgate Street is rated 67 on KTB's Fit Scores and is a useful performer with a solid record here, having won two of eight starts at Sligo. He steps up in trip today having last run over 2m0½f yet has won twice from ten starts at this distance and holds an official rating of 91. The trainer records an 8% strike rate at the track from 119 runs, above their 3% at other courses. Usually races handily on or close to the lead, his recent form reads 273303 and he has been placed three times from six starts on good to yielding ground without winning.
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3Lilac Lady65/100
Lilac Lady is next on 65 and is a useful performer who has won once from eight starts at Sligo. She has placed four times from seven runs at today's trip and holds an official rating of 100. She has been competitive on good to yielding ground without winning and arrives in modest recent form, with her figures reading -24178. The trainer's 8% strike rate at the track from 289 runs is in line with his record elsewhere. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, she is likely to be prominent in a race with a strong gallop.
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4Andyourbirdcansing63/100
Andyourbirdcansing is rated 63 and is a useful performer with a solid record here, having won three of his seven starts at Sligo. He drops back in trip today having last run over 2m5f, though he has won at this distance in the past and carries an official rating of 90. The trainer's 11% strike rate at the track from 288 runs is above his 6% elsewhere, while the jockey has a 30% strike rate from ten rides at Sligo. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, his recent form reads 651001 and he has been placed once from ten starts on good to yielding ground.
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5Letters To Juliet55/100
Letters To Juliet is the fifth principal on a Fit Score of 55 and is a useful performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts. Only fifth on his one previous run here and he has failed to place in two starts on good to yielding ground. He steps up in trip today having been unsuccessful in three previous tries at this distance and holds an official rating of 91. Usually held up and producing his effort late, his recent form reads /570-0. The trainer has a 25% strike rate at Sligo from four runs while the jockey has a 14% strike rate from 103 rides at the track.
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6The Flying Rambler52/100
The Flying Rambler is a useful sort rated 52 on KTB's Fit Scores who showed fair form when fourth at Down Royal last time having been well held on his previous two starts. He steps up in trip today which asks a fresh question and the small sample on this ground leaves suitability unknown. The dam has had one other runner which did not win. Trainer at Sligo has a 7% strike rate from 29 runs while jockey Keith Donoghue records a 17% strike rate from 103 rides at the track. Usually held up, his recent form reads 7-804.
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7High Honour48/100
High Honour is rated 48 and is a useful performer who has won over this trip and at this track. He steps back up in distance having last run over 1m4f, which asks a fresh question, while his placed effort on good to yielding shows he handles the ground without winning on it. Trainer has a 6% strike rate at Sligo from 18 runs. Usually held up, his recent form reads 3/4P-7.
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8Plus Or Minus47/100
Plus Or Minus is a fair performer rated 47 who has struggled this year with four modest efforts from his last four starts. He has shown little at this track or on this ground and now drops back in trip as an unknown. Trainer and jockey both operate at a 12% strike rate here which sits in line with their records elsewhere. Usually held up, his recent form reads 5000.
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9Finnians Row44/100
Finnians Row is a fair 10-year-old rated 44 who has won twice at today's trip from six attempts and holds an official rating of 84. He has shown some competitiveness on good to yielding ground with two placed efforts from 11 starts though he is yet to win on it. The trainer's 4% strike rate at Sligo from 68 runs is in line with his record elsewhere while this represents the horse's first appearance at the track. Usually races handily, his recent form reads P-1105.
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10Grennanstown Lady43/100
Grennanstown Lady is a fair performer rated 43 who has shown little spark lately and was pulled up or beaten a long way on her last two starts. She has run twice at Sligo without placing and steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in three previous attempts at this distance. Trainer Gerard Keane has an 8% strike rate here from 126 runs while jockey Eoghan Finegan is still seeking a first Sligo winner from 16 rides. Usually held up, her recent form reads 954-0B.
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11Hometomayo40/100
Hometomayo is a fair performer rated 40 who has shown little spark in six runs this year, finishing no better than seventh on his last four starts. He steps up in trip today having failed to make an impact when tried at this distance previously. The trainer has only two runs at Sligo so the sample is too small to judge. Usually races handily, his recent form reads -40706.
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12Atlantic Wonder38/100
Atlantic Wonder is a fair handicapper rated 38 who has shown little spark since last summer and arrives here off the back of a modest fifth at Downpatrick. He has no win or place from his only previous run at Sligo and is 0-2 on good to yielding ground. The step up in trip today asks a fresh question while the yard’s 13 percent strike rate at the track sits in line with their overall record. Usually held up, his recent form reads P69P-5.
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13Maxios Lady37/100
Maxios Lady is a modest performer rated 37 who has shown very little in five runs to date and was well beaten on her only previous visit to Sligo. She steps up in trip today with first-time headgear and the yard's 6% strike rate at the track is in line with their record elsewhere. Data is solid but the recent form offers no encouragement. Usually held up, her recent form reads 000P-6.
KTB verdict
Oh So Charming stands out at the head of KTB's Fit Scores and is the selection. A useful performer with a win already to his name at this track and at the trip, he shapes as though the step up in distance should be within range on the balance of his ratings and family background. His held-up style looks well suited to the strong pace that is likely to unfold, with the 25% strike rate of the jockey at Sligo an added positive. Main dangers are headed by Bowgate Street, who has a strong record at the venue, and the front-running pair Lilac Lady and Andyourbirdcansing, both of whom have won here and could take advantage if the pace does not fully collapse.
KTB Selection Oh So Charming
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 1:36am, 23 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Oh So Charming | 12/1 | LiveScore Bet, 1:02am |
| Bowgate Street | 9/2 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Lilac Lady | 12/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Andyourbirdcansing | 9/2 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Letters To Juliet | 40/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| The Flying Rambler | 9/2 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| High Honour | 18/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Plus Or Minus | 22/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Finnians Row | 6/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Grennanstown Lady | 18/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Hometomayo | 28/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Atlantic Wonder | 6/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Maxios Lady | 14/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
This is the narrative read of the 2:35 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. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Sligo racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest course record among the principals?
Andyourbirdcansing has won three of his seven starts at Sligo.
How does the strong pace shape influence the held-up runners?
The strong pace that is likely could collapse late, which would favour hold-up horses such as Oh So Charming and Letters To Juliet.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Sligo for the yard of the selection?
The trainer of Oh So Charming has an 8% strike rate at Sligo from 26 runs.
Which runners tend to race prominently and are likely to set the pace?
Lilac Lady tends to make the running or race on the pace, while Andyourbirdcansing and Bowgate Street are also usually to the fore.
Has any runner in the field been successful at both this course and trip?
Oh So Charming has won here and has a win at today's trip.
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