4:40 Sligo
The 4:40 at Sligo is a 2m1f193y claiming hurdle on good ground that features a field of ten where the KTB numbers point to a competitive but open-looking contest. Raydamann tops the Fit ratings on 68 and is the clear selection, while the next four principals are tightly bunched between 55 and 57. With no obvious front-runner the race is expected to be tactical, and several runners arrive with first-time headgear as a possible spark.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks a leader and confidence is medium that it will be a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay. Almost every runner is described as held-up, so the field is likely to bunch early with the race developing into a test of timing from mid-race onwards. The key question is which horse can produce its effort at the right time off a modest gallop on a track where course form is at a premium.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Raydamann KTB Selection68/100Smart performer who won over this trip on his only previous attempt and landed a course win here from a single visit.
- 2God Of Thunder57/100God Of Thunder is a high-class performer on his best days with a solid career record that includes two wins from 13 starts on good ground.
- 3Rich Belief56/100Smart performer who has placed on both starts this year including a solid third over C&D last time.
- 4Bryson56/100Useful performer who has shown enough in recent starts to suggest he can be competitive off this mark.
- 5Howdoyalikeherhome55/100Smart performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of modest efforts.
- 6Presenting Lad52/100Smart performer with solid placed form at this track including two thirds from four runs.
- 7Warm In Gorey45/100Useful performer who has run well at this track in the past, finishing second here over hurdles.
- 8Truckers Cruising43/100Useful performer who has been struggling of late with a string of poor efforts including two pulled ups.
- 9Oh So Charming41/100Useful performer who has been placed on his only visit to Sligo and is competitive on good ground.
- 10Slowdownbarney34/100Slowdownbarney is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history yet has been out of form for some time with three modest efforts this year.
The contenders
Raydamann KTB Fit 68/100
Raydamann is a smart performer who won over this trip on his only previous attempt and landed a course win here from a single visit. He has a solid strike rate for Gordon Elliott at Sligo and showed his best form when successful last time out. The step back up in trip looks suitable though he is not prolific on good ground. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be ridden by James Smith who boasts a 25% strike rate at the track from 20 rides. The trainer-jockey combination shows 7/65 (11%) with an A/E of 0.94.
God Of Thunder KTB Fit 57/100
God Of Thunder is a high-class performer on his best days with a solid career record that includes two wins from 13 starts on good ground. He steps up markedly in trip today having last run over 1m3½f, which asks a fresh question of him, while first-time headgear is also applied. The trainer has a 7% strike rate from 166 runs at Sligo. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is ridden by Daniel King who has a 15% strike rate at the venue. The yard-jockey figures read 50/539 (9%) with an A/E of 0.86.
Rich Belief KTB Fit 56/100
Rich Belief is a smart performer who has placed on both starts this year including a solid third over C&D last time. He steps back up in trip today having last run over 1m4f yet is proven at this distance. First-time headgear is an interesting addition while the yard's modest 9% strike rate at Sligo adds a note of caution. Usually held up with high confidence in that assessment, he is partnered by Ben Harvey whose Sligo figures are 6% from 34 rides. The trainer-jockey combination is 2/32 (6%) with an A/E of 0.88.
Bryson KTB Fit 56/100
Bryson is a useful performer who has shown enough in recent starts to suggest he can be competitive off this mark. He has placed twice from three runs at today's trip on good ground and now tries headgear for the first time. Trainer has no recorded runners at Sligo while this is the horse's first visit to the track. Usually held up with high confidence, he is ridden by Joshua Halford who has a 10% strike rate at Sligo from 10 rides. The yard's overall record stands at 13% from a small sample of eight runs.
Howdoyalikeherhome KTB Fit 55/100
Howdoyalikeherhome is a smart performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of modest efforts. She drops back in trip with first-time headgear and has a solid record on good ground. Trainer has a respectable 16% strike rate at Sligo from a large sample. Usually held up with high confidence, she is ridden by Josh Williamson whose Sligo strike rate is 22% from nine rides. The trainer-jockey figures read 24/186 (13%) with an A/E of 0.78.
The rest of the field
Presenting LadKTB Fit 52/100
Presenting Lad is a smart performer with solid placed form at this track including two thirds from four runs. He has only won twice on good ground from 18 attempts though and his recent form is patchy with two pulled ups in the last five starts. Steps up in trip today while wearing headgear for the first time.
Warm In GoreyKTB Fit 45/100
Warm In Gorey is a useful performer who has run well at this track in the past, finishing second here over hurdles. He has been consistent of late but is now dropping back in trip having last run over further, while the first-time headgear is an unknown. Trainer has a modest 4% strike rate at Sligo from a large sample.
Truckers CruisingKTB Fit 43/100
Truckers Cruising is a useful performer who has been struggling of late with a string of poor efforts including two pulled ups. First-time headgear is now tried in a bid to spark a revival but he has shown little on good ground in five runs and remains winless at this trip from three attempts. Gordon Elliott has a solid 16% strike rate at Sligo from a large sample.
Oh So CharmingKTB Fit 41/100
Oh So Charming is a useful performer who has been placed on his only visit to Sligo and is competitive on good ground. He steps back up to a trip where he has already shown placed form though he remains winless at the distance. First-time headgear is now tried while the yard has yet to strike at this track from 17 runs.
SlowdownbarneyKTB Fit 34/100
Slowdownbarney is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history yet has been out of form for some time with three modest efforts this year. The yard's 5% strike rate from 65 runs at Sligo offers little encouragement and he has failed to place in six runs on good ground. First-time headgear is now fitted as he steps up in trip for the first time.
KTB verdict
Raydamann stands out as the KTB Selection. A smart performer with a course win to his name and a recent victory over this trip, he brings the best combination of ability, trainer form at Sligo and suitability to the steadily-run race likely to unfold. His held-up style should be effective if James Smith times the run correctly. The main dangers are God Of Thunder, who possesses high-class ability on his day and now tries headgear and a longer trip, and Rich Belief, who has shown consistent placed form this year including over C&D and also sports first-time headgear. Bryson and Howdoyalikeherhome add further depth to a race where several runners are looking to bounce back.
KTB Selection Raydamann
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:01 UTC, 6 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Raydamann | 9/4 | BetTom |
| God Of Thunder | 11/2 | Bet365 |
| Rich Belief | 6/1 | Bet365 |
| Bryson | 9/1 | Bet365 |
| Howdoyalikeherhome | 7/1 | BetTom |
| Presenting Lad | 14/1 | BetTom |
| Warm In Gorey | 11/1 | Bet365 |
| Truckers Cruising | 10/1 | Bet365 |
| Oh So Charming | 11/2 | BetTom |
| Slowdownbarney | 33/1 | BetTom |
This is the narrative read of the 4:40 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 course-winning form at Sligo?
Raydamann has won here from a single visit.
Why is first-time headgear being widely used in this race?
Six of the ten runners are wearing headgear for the first time, including God Of Thunder, Rich Belief, Bryson, Howdoyalikeherhome, Presenting Lad, Warm In Gorey, Truckers Cruising, Oh So Charming and Slowdownbarney.
Which trainer has the strongest Sligo strike rate among those represented?
Gordon Elliott has a 16% strike rate at Sligo from 277 runs and is responsible for Raydamann, Howdoyalikeherhome and Truckers Cruising.
How does the trip suit the selection?
Raydamann won over this trip on his only previous attempt and the step back up in distance looks suitable.
What does the pace shape suggest about race tactics?
With no obvious leader the race is likely to be a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy pays.
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