5:45 Sligo
The 5:45 at Sligo is a small-field Kilcawley Construction Rated Novice Hurdle over 2m1f193y on good ground. With only five runners and three of them holding KTB Fit Scores in the low-to-mid 60s, the contest looks tight on paper yet contains plenty of quality. Manoir De Mirande tops the KTB rankings at 65 and is the clear selection, though Firebrand and Luker's Tipple sit just behind on 64 and 63 respectively.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated given the presence of two habitual front-runners in Manoir De Mirande and Crystabel. Both tend to make the running or race prominently, which could set the race up for a late collapse and play into the hands of the hold-up performers. The key question is whether the pace melts sufficiently in the closing stages to allow the patiently ridden horses to close with maximum effect on this sharp track.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Manoir De Mirande KTB Selection65/100Manoir De Mirande is high-class on the figures and has taken his form up another notch with two wins in his last three starts.
- 2Firebrand64/100Smart performer who has been competitive without winning lately and arrives here in reasonable form.
- 3Luker's Tipple63/100Smart performer who arrives in solid form after a win and two placed efforts from his last three starts.
- 4Crystabel55/100Crystabel is a useful performer who has won over this trip and at this track.
- 5Hillhead Runner52/100Useful performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip, finishing in the money in both runs over it.
The contenders
Manoir De Mirande KTB Fit 65/100
Manoir De Mirande is high-class on the figures and has taken his form up another notch with two wins in his last three starts. He has already won here and at today's trip on good ground, so the track, distance and going look ideal. First-time headgear is the only unknown but the yard's 16% strike rate at Sligo from a big sample gives plenty of confidence. Gordon Elliott and Josh Williamson combine with a 24/186 record at 13% strike rate. The four-year-old is a habitual front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace with high confidence. Recent form of 3-3711 underlines his upward trajectory.
Firebrand KTB Fit 64/100
Firebrand is a smart performer who has been competitive without winning lately and arrives here in reasonable form. He has placed on his only visit to Sligo and shown he can handle good ground, though the first-time headgear is an unknown. Trainer John J Nallen has had too few runners at the track to form a clear view while the step up in trip is another fresh question. The trainer-jockey combination shows a 3/17 record. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, the six-year-old brings solid placed form from his most recent efforts of 832-25.
Luker's Tipple KTB Fit 63/100
Luker's Tipple is a smart performer who arrives in solid form after a win and two placed efforts from his last three starts. He has already shown he can win at this trip and has a respectable record on good ground. Trainer Gavin Cromwell has a 12% strike rate at Sligo from 141 runs while Keith Donoghue takes the ride. The pair combine with a 175/1284 record at 14% strike rate. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, the five-year-old has recent form figures of 92-341 and no course form on record.
The rest of the field
CrystabelKTB Fit 55/100
Crystabel is a useful performer who has won over this trip and at this track. She has shown consistent form this year with three placed efforts and two wins from her last six starts, though she can be a bit inconsistent. The trainer has a solid 11% strike rate at Sligo from a big sample while the jockey also knows the place well. A front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace with high confidence, she brings recent form of -33613.
Hillhead RunnerKTB Fit 52/100
Hillhead Runner is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip, finishing in the money in both runs over it. He has already placed here at Sligo and handles good ground, though he is yet to win on it. First-time headgear is now tried on a horse with solid recent ratings. Usually held up with medium confidence, the six-year-old has recent form of 8-9740.
KTB verdict
Manoir De Mirande stands out as the KTB Selection. He is high-class on the figures, has already won at the track, trip and on the ground, and the yard's healthy record at Sligo adds further reassurance even with the first-time headgear. The race is likely to be strongly run given the presence of multiple front-runners, which should suit the hold-up types behind him. Firebrand and Luker's Tipple, both smart performers in solid recent form, represent the chief dangers in a race where the pace shape could prove decisive.
KTB Selection Manoir De Mirande
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Manoir De Mirande | 9/4 | Bet365 |
| Firebrand | 4/1 | Bet Victor |
| Luker's Tipple | 7/4 | Bet365 |
| Crystabel | 13/2 | Bet365 |
| Hillhead Runner | 10/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 5:45 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 already won at Sligo over this trip on good ground?
Manoir De Mirande has won here and at today's trip on good ground.
How many front-runners are in the field and what does that mean for the pace?
There are two habitual front-runners, Manoir De Mirande and Crystabel, so a strong pace is likely and could collapse late, favouring hold-up horses.
Which trainer has the best strike rate at Sligo among those represented?
John J Nallen has a 50% strike rate at Sligo from 4 runs.
Who rides the KTB Selection and what is their strike rate at the track?
Josh Williamson rides Manoir De Mirande and has a 22% strike rate at Sligo from 9 rides.
Which horses are wearing first-time headgear?
Manoir De Mirande, Firebrand and Hillhead Runner are all wearing first-time headgear.
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