3:45 Sligo
The 3:45 at Sligo is a 16-runner End of an Era Handicap Hurdle over 2m4f142y on good to yielding ground. It features a mix of useful and fair performers, several with course experience at this venue, though the KTB Fit Scores suggest a race with few standouts and a top rating of just 68. The official ratings cluster tightly between 72 and 97, indicating a competitive but modest handicap where recent form, trip suitability and track records will be key.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two habitual front-runners present, including Full Noise and Dark Berkshire, and prominent runners such as Demanding Gerry, Lariat and Angelsworknovrtime also likely to be forward. This shape should see the leaders go hard early, increasing the chance of the pace collapsing in the latter stages. That scenario would play to the strengths of the hold-up performers, several of whom are among the principals, and the key question is which of the patient runners can pick up the pieces when the front end folds.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Full Noise KTB Selection68/100
Full Noise is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form this year. He finished only fifth on his one visit to Sligo yet drops back from three miles to a trip where he has won once from two starts, although he is zero from five on good to yielding ground. The trainer’s 8% strike rate at the track is matched by the jockey’s 13% record here, which sits above his wider figure. As a front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace he is sure to be prominent in a race where the pace is expected to be strong. His recent form figures of 25/330 underline that consistency, and with an OR of 96 he carries a competitive weight for a 10-year-old with placed ability.
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2You Make Me Smile63/100
You Make Me Smile is a useful performer who has won twice from seven runs at Sligo and therefore holds solid course connections. He steps up markedly in trip today from his latest 1m4½f run yet is proven at this distance with a placed effort from one attempt. The yard and jockey both record a 12% strike rate at the track which sits in line with their figures elsewhere. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is well suited to the likely strong pace that could collapse. With an OR of 97 and recent form of 5-3237 he arrives in reasonable order, while two wins from nine starts on good to yielding ground add to his appeal at this venue.
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3Brother Hollie59/100
Brother Hollie is a useful performer who has shown some ability at this track with a third and a fifth from two runs. Recent form has been modest and he has yet to place on good to yielding ground or at this trip. Trainer Mark Michael McNiff records an 8% strike rate at Sligo from 289 runs while jockey Philip Byrnes has a 21% strike rate here from 33 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, the 4-year-old should be suited if the strong pace does collapse late. His official rating of 92 keeps him competitive on paper despite the modest recent figures of 7-8305.
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4Demanding Gerry56/100
Demanding Gerry is a fair performer who has been consistent without winning of late, finishing second twice and placing on good-to-yielding ground three times from four starts. He steps up in trip today having failed to win in two previous tries at this distance, while this is his first run at Sligo. The trainer operates at a 7% strike rate here which is in line with his record elsewhere, though the jockey has a 30% strike rate from 10 rides at the track. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he will be prominent in a race with a strong pace likely. Recent form of 24P452 shows he remains competitive at an OR of 85.
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5Diaduit Buachaill56/100
Diaduit Buachaill is a useful performer who showed fair form when fifth over C&D on his only previous visit here. Dropping back from 3m should suit after finishing a modest fourth on his latest start. Trainer Gary McGill records an 8% strike rate at Sligo from 12 runs while the 7lb claimer has limited track data. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, he is another who should relish the anticipated strong pace. Half-brother to Welonlyhavedone who won once from eight runs, with the dam also producing a winner, his recent form reads 56084- and he carries an OR of 92.
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6Clonbury Court53/100
Clonbury Court is a fair maiden who has failed to complete in four of five starts and showed little spark on return at Ballinrobe. The step up in trip to 2m4f is a fresh question and the small sample on this sort of ground leaves suitability unknown. Usually held up with high confidence, the trainer has a 7% strike rate at Sligo from 29 runs while the jockey posts a 21% strike rate here from 47 rides.
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7Goin'51/100
Goin' is a useful performer who has been consistent of late with three straight placed efforts from his last four starts. He steps up in trip today having already placed at this distance without winning and holds an official rating of 97. Usually held up with high confidence, trainer and jockey both operate at a 13-14% strike rate at Sligo which sits in line with their records elsewhere while the horse makes his first appearance here.
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8Mane Attraction51/100
Mane Attraction shaped with some promise when third on return at Downpatrick last time and holds a fair level of ability on his best form. He drops back in trip here having been well held on his only previous visit to Sligo. Usually held up with high confidence, half-brother to Live To Laugh who won three from 17, the trainer and jockey both record strike rates at the track that sit in line with their figures elsewhere.
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9Lariat50/100
Lariat is a fair 10-year-old who has placed twice from three runs at Sligo yet has failed to win in 50 career starts. He steps up in trip today having been placed at this distance without winning, though he has shown no win or place from seven runs on good to yielding ground. Usually racing handily, the trainer has a 13% strike rate at Sligo from 46 runs while the jockey records a 13% strike rate from 16 rides here.
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10Angelsworknovrtime50/100
Angelsworknovrtime is a fair 10-year-old who has been placed twice from ten runs at Sligo without winning. He steps back up to this trip today having shown little on his most recent starts and his sole win on good to yielding ground came some time ago. Usually racing handily, the trainer's 7% strike rate at the track is in line with his record elsewhere.
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11Larkins Lane50/100
Larkins Lane is a useful performer who has won 1 from 2 starts at this track and is 1 from 2 at today's trip. He arrives in solid form with figures of 118423 and has placed once from two runs on good to yielding ground. Usually held up with high confidence, the trainer has a 6% strike rate at Sligo from 255 runs while the jockey has no provided record at the course.
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12But What About Me47/100
But What About Me is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history yet has failed to place in either start at Sligo and showed little on his most recent two efforts. He steps up in trip today having been unplaced on his only previous try at this distance and holds no win or place from three runs on good to yielding ground. Usually held up with high confidence, the trainer holds a 0% strike rate from five runs at the track.
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13Me Wee Nanny Fran47/100
Me Wee Nanny Fran is a fair performer on official ratings who has failed to complete in three of her last four starts. The yard's 13% strike rate at Sligo from 153 runs sits in line with their record elsewhere. She steps up in trip today as a fresh question with only six career runs behind her and typically settles in midfield.
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14Emmamia45/100
Emmamia has shown very little in three runs to date and was well beaten on her only visit to this track. She steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question of this fair maiden. Usually held up, the yard's 8% strike rate at Sligo is in line with their record elsewhere and half-sister to Roman Gold who won twice from nine runs.
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15Magic Hands Noel43/100
Magic Hands Noel is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history. He showed a bit more when sixth on his latest start but has otherwise struggled to make an impact in five runs. Usually held up with high confidence, the yard and jockey both record in-line strike rates at Sligo while this represents a new trip.
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16Dark Berkshire37/100
Dark Berkshire is a modest performer who has shown little spark in recent starts with a string of modest finishes. He steps up in trip today as a fresh question on ground he has failed to place on in four previous tries. A front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, the trainer records a 6% strike rate at Sligo from 255 runs.
KTB verdict
Full Noise is the KTB Selection. A useful performer with consistent placed form this year, he drops to a trip that has previously suited him and his front-running style will ensure he is prominent in a race with a strong pace likely to test those up front. The combination of his ability, the trainer and jockey's respectable records at Sligo and an OR of 96 that looks fair make him the one to beat. Main dangers are You Make Me Smile, who has a strong course record and is well suited to a late collapse, and Brother Hollie, who has shown ability here and can also benefit from the shape. Demanding Gerry and Diaduit Buachaill add further depth to a race where several hold-up types may be well placed to strike late.
KTB Selection Full Noise
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Full Noise | 18/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| You Make Me Smile | 9/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Brother Hollie | 11/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Demanding Gerry | 6/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Diaduit Buachaill | 9/2 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Clonbury Court | 50/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Goin' | 4/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Mane Attraction | 16/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Lariat | 33/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Angelsworknovrtime | 28/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Larkins Lane | 4/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| But What About Me | 28/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Me Wee Nanny Fran | 33/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Emmamia | 33/1 | BetTom, 1:02am |
| Magic Hands Noel | 6/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Dark Berkshire | 20/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
This is the narrative read of the 3:45 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 horses are likely to set the strong pace?
Full Noise and Dark Berkshire are habitual front-runners, with Demanding Gerry, Lariat and Angelsworknovrtime also likely to race prominently.
Why does the pace shape favour hold-up horses?
A strong pace with two or more front-runners is likely to collapse late, which would favour hold-up horses.
Which runners have previous placed form at Sligo?
You Make Me Smile has won twice from seven runs here, Brother Hollie has a third and a fifth, Lariat has placed twice from three runs, Angelsworknovrtime has been placed twice from ten runs, Larkins Lane has won once from two runs, and Full Noise finished fifth once.
Which of the principals are proven on good to yielding ground?
You Make Me Smile has two wins from nine starts on good to yielding, Demanding Gerry has placed three times from four starts on the surface, while Full Noise, Brother Hollie and Diaduit Buachaill are unplaced on it.
How does the trip suitability differ among the top principals?
Full Noise and Diaduit Buachaill are dropping back from three miles to a trip where they have shown ability, You Make Me Smile and Demanding Gerry are stepping up in trip, and Brother Hollie is unproven at the distance.
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