7:30 Sligo
The Glasshouse Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle at Sligo over 3m1f170y on good ground brings together a field of 17, with plenty of unexposed or lightly-raced types mixing it with more exposed performers. The KTB Fit ratings identify a clutch of principals separated by small margins at the top, headed by Brandt on 68, while the overall numbers suggest a competitive contest where course knowledge, trip effectiveness and the muddling pace shape will play significant parts. With no obvious front-runner, those capable of racing prominently or settling just off the pace look best placed to capitalise.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is described as muddling and tactical with medium confidence, as there is no clear front-runner in the field. Several runners, including Private Policy, The Dabbler and Sphagnum, like to race prominently or handy, which should see them take up forward positions in what is likely to be a steadily-run affair. Those held up, such as Brandt, Spellacy's Cross and Smallcraftwarning, will be looking to produce their efforts late off what could be a modest gallop. The key question is whether the prominent runners can dictate matters or if the race will fall into the lap of a strong finisher from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Brandt KTB Selection68/100Brandt is a useful performer on his best days with an RPR of 102 but has been well below that level in four runs this year.
- 2Spellacy's Cross64/100Smart performer who has placed twice at this trip without winning.
- 3Private Policy63/100Useful performer who battled to his first win at Punchestown over 3m last time and now steps up in trip.
- 4Aine's Lad63/100Aine's Lad is a smart performer on his best days with a solid recent record that includes two wins and a placed effort from his last four starts.
- 5Smallcraftwarning58/100Smart performer on his day who has shown enough at this trip to stay competitive.
- 6Eddies Pride57/100Eddies Pride is a 12-year-old useful performer who has shown enough at this trip to stay competitive without winning.
- 7Je Suis57/100Je Suis is a useful performer on his best days with an RPR of 104 but has been well below that level in recent starts and was pulled up last time.
- 8Loyal Praetorian57/100Loyal Praetorian is a smart performer on his figures with an RPR of 105 and Topspeed of 101 from just nine career starts.
- 9Ilbdare56/100Smart performer who has won over this trip and landed a race here at Sligo.
- 10Free Flowing55/100Free Flowing is a useful performer on his best days with an RPR of 104 and solid recent form figures of 6436.
- 11The Dabbler54/100The Dabbler is a useful 13-year-old who won over this trip earlier in his career and has two placed efforts from ten runs on good ground.
- 12Joshua's Daylami53/100This useful performer has shown mixed form since landing a win over hurdles and now steps up markedly in trip for the first time.
- 13Sphagnum51/100Useful performer who won over this trip earlier in his career and has scored once from five runs at Sligo.
- 14Attaboyarchie47/100Attaboyarchie is a useful performer on his best days with an RPR of 100 but has been inconsistent lately and failed to complete in two of his last three starts.
- 15Walking In Mayo47/100Useful performer who showed little in three starts this year but was badly hampered when favourite at Punchestown last time and is clearly thought better than h…
- 16Lissen To The Lady45/100Lissen To The Lady is a useful 12-year-old who showed she retains plenty of ability when fifth on return at Downpatrick last month.
- 17Jetstream Jeff34/100Jetstream Jeff has shown very little in five starts and was pulled up on handicap debut last time.
The contenders
Brandt KTB Fit 68/100
Brandt is a useful performer on his best days with an RPR of 102 but has been well below that level in four runs this year. He has placed both starts at today's trip though he steps back from 3m6f last time, while he has also shown he can be competitive on good ground. The yard hold a solid 15% strike rate at Sligo from 39 runs yet this one unseated on his only previous visit here. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should be suited by the muddling tactical pace shape. His placed form at the trip gives him a solid foundation in a race where the selection is the one to beat.
Spellacy's Cross KTB Fit 64/100
Spellacy's Cross is a smart performer who has placed twice at this trip without winning. He showed fair form when third on his most recent start and has solid placed form on good ground, though he is yet to land a race on it. The trainer has a modest record here with a 6% strike rate from 18 runs while the jockey has been much more effective at Sligo boasting a 31% strike rate and A/E of 2.23 from 16 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be looking to come from off the pace in a muddling affair. Course form of second on his only visit adds to his appeal as a leading danger.
Private Policy KTB Fit 63/100
Private Policy is a useful performer who battled to his first win at Punchestown over 3m last time and now steps up in trip. The 6lb rise looks fair given his lightly-raced profile and potential for further improvement. Trainer records a 7% strike-rate from 27 runs at Sligo while jockey Paul Mullins has a strong 47% strike-rate from 55 rides here. Usually races handily on or close to the lead, he is well suited to the anticipated muddling pace. Unproven on good ground he remains an interesting contender stepping up in distance off the back of that recent success.
Aine's Lad KTB Fit 63/100
Aine's Lad is a smart performer on his best days with a solid recent record that includes two wins and a placed effort from his last four starts. He has already shown his liking for this track when finishing third here and both trainer and jockey have respectable strike rates at Sligo with the yard on 12% from 41 runs and the jockey 11% from 9 rides. Typically settling in midfield, he should find a suitable rhythm in this tactical contest. Stepping up in trip is an unknown at this stage while his three runs on good ground have produced no win or place, yet his course form keeps him firmly in the mix.
Smallcraftwarning KTB Fit 58/100
Smallcraftwarning is a smart performer on his day who has shown enough at this trip to stay competitive. He has been placed on good ground but is 0-9 in that sphere and has never won at Sligo from two previous runs here. Trainer and jockey both have modest strike rates at the track, the yard at 10% from 263 runs and the jockey 8% from 13 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be hoping the muddling pace plays to his strengths. His placed form at the trip and on the ground keeps him as a viable each-way contender despite the lack of a Sligo victory.
The rest of the field
Eddies PrideKTB Fit 57/100
Eddies Pride is a 12-year-old useful performer who has shown enough at this trip to stay competitive without winning. He has placed once from five runs at Sligo and is competitive on good ground though winless in 12 starts. The yard records an 8 percent strike rate here from 63 runs while the horse steps up in trip today having last run over shorter.
Je SuisKTB Fit 57/100
Je Suis is a useful performer on his best days with an RPR of 104 but has been well below that level in recent starts and was pulled up last time. He steps up markedly in trip today having failed to make the frame in two previous attempts at this distance while his record on good ground is modest with no wins or places from five runs. The trainer has a solid 12 percent strike rate at Sligo from 17 runs but this is the horse's first appearance here.
Loyal PraetorianKTB Fit 57/100
Loyal Praetorian is a smart performer on his figures with an RPR of 105 and Topspeed of 101 from just nine career starts. He showed fair form when third on his latest completed start but has a patchy record that includes a fall and a pulled-up effort. Stepping up in trip for the first time poses a fresh question while his record on good ground remains limited after a single run.
IlbdareKTB Fit 56/100
Ilbdare is a smart performer who has won over this trip and landed a race here at Sligo. Recent form has been patchy and the drop to 2m4f last time left him struggling, so the return to his optimum distance is a positive. Trainer's modest 8% strike rate at the track is worth noting while the claiming jockey has only one ride here.
Free FlowingKTB Fit 55/100
Free Flowing is a useful performer on his best days with an RPR of 104 and solid recent form figures of 6436. He steps up markedly in trip today having last run over 2m so this is an unknown for him while he is also unproven on good ground. The trainer has an 8 percent strike rate from 63 runs at Sligo though the jockey has only four rides here.
The DabblerKTB Fit 54/100
The Dabbler is a useful 13-year-old who won over this trip earlier in his career and has two placed efforts from ten runs on good ground. He showed only modest form when last seen in 2024 yet has a solid record at Sligo including a win from two starts and the trainer holds a 13 percent strike rate here from 45 runs. The jockey has only three rides at the track so far and this represents a step back up in distance from his most recent 2m run.
Joshua's DaylamiKTB Fit 53/100
Joshua's Daylami is a useful performer who has shown mixed form since landing a win over hurdles and now steps up markedly in trip for the first time. The move to 3m1f looks a fresh question as his only previous attempt at the distance brought no success and his most recent efforts were over much shorter. Trainer Mark Fahey has an 11 percent strike rate from 18 runs at Sligo while jockey Mr J M Halford is still seeking a first winner from five rides here.
SphagnumKTB Fit 51/100
Sphagnum is a useful performer who won over this trip earlier in his career and has scored once from five runs at Sligo. Recent form is poor though and the yard's modest 3 percent strike rate at the track adds little confidence. First-time headgear is now fitted as he steps back up in distance.
AttaboyarchieKTB Fit 47/100
Attaboyarchie is a useful performer on his best days with an RPR of 100 but has been inconsistent lately and failed to complete in two of his last three starts. He has shown some ability at this trip and on good ground without winning either, while his record around Sligo reads no win or place from two runs. The trainer holds a 10 percent strike rate here from 20 runs and the 7lb claimer has had too few rides at the track to judge.
Walking In MayoKTB Fit 47/100
Walking In Mayo is a useful performer who showed little in three starts this year but was badly hampered when favourite at Punchestown last time and is clearly thought better than her recent form. First-time cheekpieces are now added as she steps up in trip to 3m1f for the first time. Trainer has a solid 13% strike rate from 75 runs at Sligo.
Lissen To The LadyKTB Fit 45/100
Lissen To The Lady is a useful 12-year-old who showed she retains plenty of ability when fifth on return at Downpatrick last month. She has won on good ground and has been placed over today's trip though she steps up in distance now. Trainer and jockey both have very limited experience at Sligo so this first run here adds an unknown.
Jetstream JeffKTB Fit 34/100
Jetstream Jeff has shown very little in five starts and was pulled up on handicap debut last time. He steps up markedly in trip today while 5lb out of the handicap and wearing first-time headgear. The trainer's poor record at Sligo adds to the negatives.
KTB verdict
Brandt is the KTB Selection. A useful performer on his best days with an RPR of 102, he has placed both starts at today's trip and shown he can be competitive on good ground, with the yard holding a solid record at Sligo. Usually held up, he is well suited to the muddling tactical pace and steps back from a longer trip last time, which should see him produce a strong late effort. Main dangers include Spellacy's Cross with his strong jockey record at the track and placed form at the trip, Private Policy who comes off a recent win with potential for more, and Aine's Lad who has shown liking for the course.
KTB Selection Brandt
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brandt | 9/1 | BetTom |
| Spellacy's Cross | 13/2 | Bet365 |
| Private Policy | 5/1 | Bet365 |
| Aine's Lad | 10/1 | 10Bet |
| Smallcraftwarning | 8/1 | Bet365 |
| Eddies Pride | 80/1 | 10Bet |
| Je Suis | 20/1 | 10Bet |
| Loyal Praetorian | 11/1 | William Hill |
| Ilbdare | 9/1 | 10Bet |
| Free Flowing | 33/1 | 10Bet |
| The Dabbler | 14/1 | 10Bet |
| Joshua's Daylami | 16/1 | 10Bet |
| Sphagnum | 25/1 | 10Bet |
| Attaboyarchie | 15/2 | Bet365 |
| Walking In Mayo | 11/2 | BresBet |
| Lissen To The Lady | 28/1 | Bet365 |
| Jetstream Jeff | 100/1 | 10Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 7:30 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 strongest jockey record at Sligo in this field?
Private Policy's jockey has a 47% strike rate at Sligo from 55 rides.
How many principals are held up in running style?
Three of the top five principals – Brandt, Spellacy's Cross and Smallcraftwarning – are usually held up.
Which horse is stepping back up to its optimum trip after a recent run over shorter?
Ilbdare, after the drop to 2m4f last time left him struggling.
Who is the only horse in the field wearing first-time headgear?
Sphagnum is the only horse with first-time headgear; note that Walking In Mayo has first-time cheekpieces and Jetstream Jeff has first-time headgear.
Which runner has course form including a win at Sligo over this trip?
Sphagnum won over this trip earlier in his career and has scored once from five runs at Sligo.
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