5:20 Sligo
The 5:20 at Sligo is a 2m2f claiming hurdle on good ground that features a competitive field of ten, several of whom arrive with high-class ability on their best days. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Torquay Road and Raydamann separated by just a single point, while the official ratings and recent efforts underline that this is no ordinary claimer. Course form, trainer records at Sligo and the way the race is likely to be run will all come into play on what looks a genuinely-run, fair test.
How the race shapes up
With a front-runner likely to be pressed by several handy types, the pace shape is genuinely run according to the KTB assessment. Phoenix Arizona is the one who tends to make the running or race prominently, while Hasten Slowly and Jaariam usually race handily on or close to the lead. Torquay Road and Woodstream Lad are typically held up and produce their efforts late, with the remainder settling in mid-division. The key question is whether the prominent runners can sustain their effort in a strongly-run race or if the late closers will be able to pick them off.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Torquay Road KTB Selection67/100Torquay Road is a high-class performer on his day with a career-high RPR of 125 and has won both starts at Sligo.
- 2Raydamann66/100High-class performer on his figures who brings an RPR of 126 to the table and has won over today's trip.
- 3Rich Belief60/100High-class performer on his day with RPR of 128 and Topspeed of 123.
- 4Hasten Slowly55/100Hasten Slowly is a high-class performer on his best days with an RPR of 127 and Topspeed of 111.
- 5Woodstream Lad54/100Woodstream Lad has high-class ability on his best days with an RPR of 125 and Topspeed of 121 yet has been a patchy performer lately with two pulled-ups before…
- 6Tomas O Maille54/100Smart performer on his day but has been largely out of form this year and his recent efforts make grim reading.
- 7Jaariam47/100Jaariam is a smart performer on his best day with a solid RPR of 110 but has been inconsistent and has failed to complete in three of his last five starts.
- 8Eyeeye46/100Eyeeye is a smart performer on his best days with an RPR of 113 and Topspeed of 101 but has been well below that level in recent starts and showed no spark when…
- 9Phoenix Arizona42/100Phoenix Arizona is a smart performer on his best days with a solid RPR of 113 but has been well below that level in two starts this year.
- 10Bocelli's Voice40/100Bocelli's Voice is a smart performer on his best days with an RPR of 110 but arrives out of form after a string of modest efforts including a latest ninth.
The contenders
Torquay Road KTB Fit 67/100
Torquay Road is a high-class performer on his day with a career-high RPR of 125 and has won both starts at Sligo. He drops back to his winning trip of 2m2f having last run over further and holds solid claims on these ratings and course record. The yard has a respectable 15% strike rate here from 39 runs while the 7lb claimer is still seeking his first Sligo success from five rides. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and has a record of one win from six on good ground with two placed efforts. Recent form of 4362-7 is respectable in this context and his overall profile makes him the one to beat.
Raydamann KTB Fit 66/100
Raydamann is a high-class performer on his figures who brings an RPR of 126 to the table and has won over today's trip. Recent form of 5455P- is mixed and he steps up markedly in distance from his last run over a mile and a quarter. Trainer Gordon Elliott has a solid 16% strike rate at Sligo from a large sample while the claiming jockey is operating above expectations here with a 21% strike rate from 19 rides. Typically settling in midfield, he has been placed four times from nine starts on good ground though without winning. The figures suggest he cannot be ruled out if he returns to his best.
Rich Belief KTB Fit 60/100
Rich Belief is a high-class performer on his day with an RPR of 128 and Topspeed of 123. He has won at today's trip though his record on good ground is modest with three wins from 23 starts. Trainer Karl Thornton has a 10% strike rate at Sligo from 20 runs while jockey Ben Harvey is operating at 3% from 30 rides here. Usually settling in midfield, he has a recent form line of /8/7/1 that includes a win last time but also lengthy absences. The ability is there on his best days but consistency and the going are both concerns.
Hasten Slowly KTB Fit 55/100
Hasten Slowly is a high-class performer on his best days with an RPR of 127 and Topspeed of 111. He has a solid record on good ground with three wins from 15 starts and six placed efforts, and has won over today's trip. Recent form of 4616-7 has been mixed. The trainer holds a 9% strike rate at Sligo while the jockey is still seeking a first winner here from five rides. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he is likely to be prominent in a race where the pace is expected to be genuine.
Woodstream Lad KTB Fit 54/100
Woodstream Lad has high-class ability on his best days with an RPR of 125 and Topspeed of 121 yet has been a patchy performer lately with two pulled-ups before a solid second last time. He has placed once from two runs at Sligo and drops back to a trip where he has won twice from 13 starts though his record on good ground reads just one win from eight runs. The trainer has a modest 5% strike-rate from 241 runs here while the jockey is 4% from 24 rides at the track. Usually held up, he will be looking to produce his effort late off what should be a strong pace.
The rest of the field
Tomas O MailleKTB Fit 54/100
Tomas O Maille is a smart performer on his day but has been largely out of form this year and his recent efforts make grim reading. Placed a couple of times at this track without winning and has a solid record when dropped back to today's trip, though he is only 1-12 on good ground. The trainer's modest strike rate here is at least in line with market expectations while he is usually held up.
JaariamKTB Fit 47/100
Jaariam is a smart performer on his best day with a solid RPR of 110 but has been inconsistent and has failed to complete in three of his last five starts. He has shown some competitiveness on good ground and is now tried in first-time headgear which could help him settle better. The trainer has a respectable record at Sligo while the jockey is still seeking a first win here, and he usually races prominently.
EyeeyeKTB Fit 46/100
Eyeeye is a smart performer on his best days with an RPR of 113 and Topspeed of 101 but has been well below that level in recent starts and showed no spark when last seen. He steps up in trip today having failed to win or place in five previous attempts at this distance and has never placed from 14 runs on good ground. The yard holds a solid 10% strike rate at Sligo from 166 runs while the jockey is still seeking a first success from 35 rides here.
Phoenix ArizonaKTB Fit 42/100
Phoenix Arizona is a smart performer on his best days with a solid RPR of 113 but has been well below that level in two starts this year. He has shown some course aptitude by finishing second here on his only visit though the yard is still seeking its first Sligo winner from 15 attempts. Stepping up in trip for the first time today asks a fresh question while his record on good ground remains modest from just two runs, and he tends to make the running.
Bocelli's VoiceKTB Fit 40/100
Bocelli's Voice is a smart performer on his best days with an RPR of 110 but arrives out of form after a string of modest efforts including a latest ninth. He has never won or placed from five runs on good ground and the trainer's modest 5% strike rate at Sligo adds little confidence. Dropping back to a trip he has won at before is the main positive in an otherwise patchy profile while he typically settles in midfield.
KTB verdict
Torquay Road stands out as the KTB Selection. He brings a career-high RPR of 125, has won both starts at Sligo including over this trip, and drops back to his optimum distance. The yard's 15% strike rate at the track from 39 runs adds further encouragement. His main dangers are Raydamann, who has an even higher RPR of 126 and a strong jockey record at Sligo, and Rich Belief, who tops the official figures with an RPR of 128 on his best days, though both have questions to answer on current form and consistency.
KTB Selection Torquay Road
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 07:10 UTC, 9 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Torquay Road | 13/8 | Bet365 |
| Raydamann | 7/1 | Bet365 |
| Rich Belief | 5/2 | 10Bet |
| Hasten Slowly | 14/1 | Bet365 |
| Woodstream Lad | 9/2 | 10Bet |
| Tomas O Maille | 25/1 | 10Bet |
| Jaariam | 50/1 | BresBet |
| Eyeeye | 20/1 | 10Bet |
| Phoenix Arizona | 33/1 | 10Bet |
| Bocelli's Voice | 50/1 | Midnite |
This is the narrative read of the 5:20 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 won both its previous starts at Sligo?
Torquay Road has won both starts at Sligo.
Who is the only front-runner in the field?
Phoenix Arizona tends to make the running or race on the pace.
Which horse is wearing first-time headgear?
Jaariam is now tried in first-time headgear.
What is the best Topspeed figure in the race?
Rich Belief has the highest Topspeed figure of 123.
Which jockey has the strongest strike rate at Sligo?
James Smith has a 21% strike rate at Sligo from 19 rides.
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