3:10 Sligo
The 3:10 at Sligo is a 2m4f142y John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle run on good to yielding ground. A field of 12 features several lightly raced types and a handful with placed form, though the KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched between 53 and 39. Wild Ridge and High Kick Kev share top billing on a modest 53, with Gunnery Sergeant close behind on 52, setting up a race where experience, stamina and the ability to handle a genuinely-run pace will be at a premium.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is genuinely run with high confidence, featuring a front-runner likely to be pressed by several handy types. La Muleta is the clearest front-running threat, while Wild Ridge, High Kick Kev, Gunnery Sergeant and Geashill Poet are all prominent or handy runners who should be on or close to the early pace. The key question is whether the leaders can maintain their effort over this longer trip or whether the race will fall to something with a more patient run-style, such as The Bossman About, Theboss'sdaughter or How Decc coming from further back.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1Wild Ridge KTB Selection53/100
Wild Ridge has a very limited race record with just three starts and a pulled-up effort on his only visit to Sligo. He steps up in trip today having shown nothing at shorter distances and the small sample makes it impossible to judge his effectiveness on this ground. The trainer holds a 14% strike rate at Sligo from 28 runs which is above their 4% at other tracks while the half-brother to The Clock Leary offers some pedigree encouragement. As the KTB Selection he is taken to improve for the longer distance and the yard's local record. His prominent run-style should see him race handily in a race that is set to be run at a proper gallop.
-
2High Kick Kev53/100
High Kick Kev is lightly raced after just one completed start this season and the form of a win and a second reads modestly at best. The trip is a fresh question today and the dam has produced just one non-winning runner so far. Trainer Mark Fahey has a 10% strike rate at Sligo from 21 runs in line with his record elsewhere while jockey Mr B Lawless has no established record at the track. He is prominent and usually races handily, though that judgement is based on limited evidence. With a KTB Fit Score matching the selection he is one of the more interesting runners in a modest event.
-
3Gunnery Sergeant52/100
Gunnery Sergeant is a useful performer who has shown consistent form of late with a string of respectable efforts including a third last time. He steps up in trip again today having already tried this distance once without success and his record on good to yielding ground reads two runs and no win or place. The trainer has a 16% strike rate at Sligo from 286 runs which is in line with his record elsewhere while the jockey is making his first appearance at the track. An OR of 102 gives him a clear edge in class terms. His prominent run-style with high confidence should see him involved in the early battle in what is expected to be a genuinely-run race.
-
4Tonightsagoodnight50/100
Tonightsagoodnight is a newcomer with no racecourse experience and limited pedigree depth. The dam has had just one other runner which failed to win. Trainer Noel C. Kelly has a 15% strike rate at Sligo from 89 runs, above his 8% at other tracks. The trainer and jockey combination show a 4/30 (13%) record. By Feel Like Dancing he has a 6% overall win rate from 233 runners and arrives without a course win on record. In a race lacking depth he cannot be entirely dismissed on debut.
-
5The Bossman About50/100
The Bossman About is lightly raced with two unplaced runs this year and no official rating yet. The yard has a 10% strike rate at Sligo from 30 runs, in line with their record elsewhere. Half-brother to Al Shahir who won twice from 15 runs, while the dam has had five other runners of whom three were winners. He is held up and usually produces his effort late with medium confidence. His KTB Fit Score of 50 leaves him in the mix in what looks an ordinary maiden.
-
6Theboss'sdaughter49/100
Theboss'sdaughter has shown little in three starts to date and arrives with a bare 000 recent form line. The yard has a 16% strike rate at Sligo from 37 runs which sits above their 6% at other tracks while jockey Mr C A Bowman has no established record here. Lightly raced with a small sample overall this represents a fresh question up in trip and any market support would need to be noted given the limited data.
-
7How Decc47/100
How Decc is a fair performer who has been placed three times from seven starts on good to yielding ground and arrives off a career-low mark. Steps up in trip today for a stable that operates at a 7% strike rate here at Sligo, in line with their record elsewhere. First run at the track and the longer distance both pose fresh questions.
-
8La Muleta44/100
La Muleta has shown steady placed form in two starts over hurdles with a 232 sequence but remains very lightly raced overall. The trip is a fresh question today and the dam has produced just one other non-winning runner. Trainer at Sligo has a 6% strike rate from 255 runs which is in line with the 5% recorded at other courses while the jockey has no supplied record at the track.
-
9Baldilou42/100
Baldilou is a debutant with very limited information to go on. The dam has produced just one previous runner that failed to win, while the horse arrives from a yard that operates at an 8% strike rate at Sligo from 289 runs, in line with their record elsewhere. Jockey Mr J W Hendrick has no established record supplied at this track.
-
10Geashill Poet39/100
Geashill Poet has been beaten a long way on both starts so far and remains a maiden with an official rating yet to be published. The yard records a 6% strike rate at Sligo from 35 runs, in line with their 8% at other tracks. This is only the third career run, the trip is a fresh question, and the dam has produced one other non-winner, so the overall picture is tentative given the low data confidence.
-
11Beeverstown Boy39/100
Beeverstown Boy has only one run under his belt so showed little last time. The trip is a fresh question today and the going remains unknown given the tiny sample. Half-brother to Grade 2 winner Feet Of A Dancer and out of a dam who has produced four winners from four runners to race.
-
12Monard Flyer39/100
Monard Flyer has shown little in two starts so far with recent form of 80. The yard records a 4% strike rate at Sligo from 215 runs which sits in line with their 4% at other tracks. This represents a step up in trip as a fresh question and the small sample means the assessment is tentative.
KTB verdict
Wild Ridge is the KTB Selection in a race that looks modest on paper. His limited profile is offset by the yard's solid record at Sligo and some pedigree encouragement as half-brother to The Clock Leary. The prominent run-style should serve him well in a genuinely-run contest. Gunnery Sergeant brings the highest official rating and consistent placed form while High Kick Kev is another who can race handily. How Decc and La Muleta are the most likely dangers from the remainder of the field.
KTB Selection Wild Ridge
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Ridge | 125/1 | BetTom, 1:09am |
| High Kick Kev | 6/5 | Bet365, 1:09am |
| Gunnery Sergeant | 3/1 | BetTom, 1:09am |
| Tonightsagoodnight | 20/1 | Bet365, 1:09am |
| The Bossman About | 150/1 | BetTom, 1:09am |
| Theboss'sdaughter | 125/1 | Bet365, 1:09am |
| How Decc | 22/1 | BetTom, 1:09am |
| La Muleta | 9/4 | Bet365, 1:09am |
| Baldilou | 14/1 | BetTom, 1:09am |
| Geashill Poet | 150/1 | BetTom, 1:09am |
| Beeverstown Boy | 12/1 | BetTom, 1:09am |
| Monard Flyer | 125/1 | BetTom, 1:09am |
This is the narrative read of the 3:10 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 is stepping up in trip having already tried this distance once?
Gunnery Sergeant steps up in trip again today having already tried this distance once without success.
Who is the only confirmed front-runner in the field?
La Muleta tends to make the running or race on the pace.
Which runner has the strongest pedigree link to black-type success?
Beeverstown Boy is half-brother to Feet Of A Dancer, a Grade 2 winner with six wins from 17 runs.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Sligo among those represented?
Gordon Elliott has a 16% strike rate at Sligo from 286 runs.
Which horse has been placed three times on good to yielding ground?
How Decc has been placed three times from seven starts on good to yielding ground.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies