7:30 Sligo
The 7:30 at Sligo is a competitive 2m4f168y handicap hurdle on good ground featuring a field of nine. With a lone leader likely to enjoy an uncontested advantage according to the KTB pace shape, the race poses a clear test of whether any of the closers can bridge the gap. KTB's Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, headed by In The Minus on 67, with Jupiter Du Gite, Cornmarket and Lilac Lady all within five points and carrying strong course or recent form credentials.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape indicates a lone leader with high confidence and little to pressure it, pointing to an uncontested lead that will be difficult for closers to peg back. Jupiter Du Gite is the most likely to take that role given his front-running style, while the remainder of the field, including the selection In The Minus, are predominantly held-up types who will be looking to produce their effort late. The key question is whether the clear advantage afforded to the leader will prove decisive or if one of the patient runners can close the gap effectively on this good ground.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1In The Minus KTB Selection67/100Smart performer who has won a couple of times but has been below form on his last two starts.
- 2Jupiter Du Gite65/100Smart performer who showed his best form when second at Cork last time and now tries headgear for the first time.
- 3Cornmarket62/100Smart performer who has won three times at this track from seven starts and brings solid course connections.
- 4Lilac Lady62/100Lilac Lady is a useful performer with solid placed form at this track and a recent win over 2m4f.
- 5Littlebiggie59/100Smart performer who has placed on his only visit to Sligo and shown competitive form on good ground.
- 6You Make Me Smile57/100You Make Me Smile is a useful performer with solid placed efforts on his last two starts and a good record here including two wins from six runs.
- 7Bruant52/100Smart performer who has won twice this season but has been inconsistent overall with two pulled-ups in his last five starts.
- 8Run For The Border50/100Useful performer who has shown consistent form of late with two placed efforts from his last three starts.
- 9Whiskey Serenade42/100Whiskey Serenade is a fair performer who has shown some competitiveness on good ground, placing twice from five starts, and has also placed twice from four runs…
The contenders
In The Minus KTB Fit 67/100
In The Minus is a smart performer who has won a couple of times but has been below form on his last two starts. He has never won over this longer trip and was well held when tried over hurdles here previously. The trainer has an 11% strike rate at Sligo with an A/E of 1.94 from 19 runs while the jockey has a 10% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.03 from 30 rides. The horse has one win from 12 starts on good ground with two placed efforts and his recent form reads 155-50. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he arrives with a question to answer on both trip and current wellbeing but is rated the selection.
Jupiter Du Gite KTB Fit 65/100
Jupiter Du Gite is a smart performer who showed his best form when second at Cork last time and now tries headgear for the first time. He drops back in trip having looked stretched by 2m7f on his latest start, though he has failed to win in his only previous run at this distance. The trainer has a 10% strike rate at Sligo from 113 runs while the jockey has recorded a 15% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.7 from 13 rides. The horse remains unproven on good ground and his recent form reads 3046-2. A front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he is likely to set the uncontested lead that the pace shape suggests will be hard to close down.
Cornmarket KTB Fit 62/100
Cornmarket is a smart performer who has won three times at this track from seven starts and brings solid course connections. He drops back in trip today having been well held over further last time, with a mixed record at this exact distance. The trainer holds a 13% strike rate at Sligo with an A/E of 1.41 from 40 runs while the jockey has a 0% strike rate from five rides at the track. He has two wins from eight starts on good ground with three placed efforts and his recent form reads 1F8-20. Usually held up and producing his effort late, his three course wins from seven starts make him a significant player.
Lilac Lady KTB Fit 62/100
Lilac Lady is a useful performer with solid placed form at this track and a recent win over 2m4f. She steps up in trip today which asks a fresh question while first-time headgear is also tried. The trainer has an 8% strike rate at Sligo from 280 runs while the jockey has a 14% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 2.01 from 28 rides. She has one win from 14 starts on good ground with seven placed efforts and her recent form reads 53-241. Usually held up and producing her effort late, the placed course form and recent success over a similar trip keep her firmly in the picture.
The rest of the field
LittlebiggieKTB Fit 59/100
Littlebiggie is a smart performer who has placed on his only visit to Sligo and shown competitive form on good ground. He drops back from three miles today having failed to win in two previous runs at this trip, while first-time headgear is an unknown. The trainer has an 8% strike rate at Sligo from 12 runs and the horse has placed four times from seven starts on good going without winning.
You Make Me SmileKTB Fit 57/100
You Make Me Smile is a useful performer with solid placed efforts on his last two starts and a good record here including two wins from six runs. He steps up in trip today having only raced over 2m last time, which poses a fresh question. The trainer holds a 12% strike rate from 73 runs at Sligo while the jockey has a 13% strike rate from 134 rides at the track. He has one win from eight starts on good ground with three placed efforts.
BruantKTB Fit 52/100
Bruant is a smart performer who has won twice this season but has been inconsistent overall with two pulled-ups in his last five starts. He steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question while his record on good ground reads no win or place from five runs. The trainer has a 12% strike rate at Sligo from 156 runs. Typically settles in midfield.
Run For The BorderKTB Fit 50/100
Run For The Border is a useful performer who has shown consistent form of late with two placed efforts from his last three starts. He has run respectably without threatening at this track on both previous visits and is dropping back in trip today to a distance he has never tried. The trainer has an 11% strike rate from 277 runs at Sligo while the jockey is making his first appearance here. He has placed once from five starts on good ground without winning.
Whiskey SerenadeKTB Fit 42/100
Whiskey Serenade is a fair performer who has shown some competitiveness on good ground, placing twice from five starts, and has also placed twice from four runs at today's trip. He drops back in distance from 2m6f having finished seventh last time, while his only previous run at Sligo resulted in a sixth-place finish. The trainer has a modest 4% strike rate from 23 runs at the track. Usually held up.
KTB verdict
In The Minus is the KTB Selection. A smart performer with a couple of wins to his name, he is backed by a trainer with a solid record at Sligo, though he does arrive with questions on both the longer trip and his current form. The uncontested lead predicted by the pace shape will make life difficult for his held-up style, yet his overall ability keeps him at the head of affairs. Main dangers are Jupiter Du Gite, who is likely to set the fractions in first-time headgear and looked in good order at Cork, and the course specialist Cornmarket, whose three wins from seven starts at Sligo cannot be ignored. Lilac Lady, with her recent 2m4f success and placed course form, completes the quartet of principals who should be involved.
KTB Selection In The Minus
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 |
|---|---|---|
| In The Minus | 22/1 | BetTom |
| Jupiter Du Gite | 11/4 | BetTom |
| Cornmarket | 17/2 | Bet365 |
| Lilac Lady | 6/1 | Bet365 |
| Littlebiggie | 5/1 | Bet365 |
| You Make Me Smile | 17/2 | Bet365 |
| Bruant | 7/1 | Bet365 |
| Run For The Border | 5/1 | BresBet |
| Whiskey Serenade | 17/2 | Bet365 |
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 is most likely to take the uncontested lead?
Jupiter Du Gite is the most likely leader given his front-running style and the lone leader pace shape with high confidence.
How many course wins does Cornmarket have at Sligo?
Cornmarket has won three times at this track from seven starts.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Sligo for the yard of the selection In The Minus?
The trainer has an 11% strike rate at Sligo with an A/E of 1.94 from 19 runs.
Which runners are wearing headgear for the first time?
Jupiter Du Gite, Lilac Lady and Littlebiggie are all wearing first-time headgear.
Which horse has the strongest placed record on good ground in the field?
Littlebiggie has placed four times from seven starts on good ground.
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