Draycott Place© Photo Healy Racing
The SF Engineering Opportunity Handicap Hurdle is the feature at Sligo today, with eight declared for this two-and-a-half-mile contest. Draycott Place who won twice from four starts last month, is sure to be a popular choice with punters.
The nine-year-old gelding will be looking to exploit his much lower mark over hurdles here, with all his recent form coming over the larger obstacles.
He won on his only other visit to Sligo in a handicap chase in September last year.
The 116-rated Girly Girl is another switching back to hurdles and it will be interesting to see how she fares in first-time cheekpieces.
Gordon Elliott saddles the top-weight Graineyhill while Ballinrobe winner Hugo ‘n Taz is another obvious contender, making his debut in handicap company.
The Maddens Bar & Restaurant Handicap Hurdle looks a very weak affair, with Back Bar Elliott’s representative here.
The son of Brian Boru will encounter quick ground for just the second time in his career in this two-mile contest and it will be disappointing if he can’t make his presence felt with Davy Russell in the saddle.
Russell and Elliott team-up with Holy Motivation in the Durkin Brothers Electrical Maiden Hurdle, with Cheap And Cheerful appearing the one to beat here.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding caught the eye when a close-up fourth at Limerick last weekend and he might be able to go a few places better now.
The opening race on the programme, the Don’t Miss Ladies Day At Sligo Races August 9th Maiden Hurdle, might not take much winning, with the Willie Mullins-trained Cool Colonnade perhaps the one to side with here.
Mullins’ Pleasure Dome and Maple Lawn look to have the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle between them, while Padraic O Conaire should give a good account of himself in the RSS Document Handicap Hurdle.
Eight have been declared for the concluding Blind Tiger INH Flat Race, with newcomers Just A Boy and Queens Boulevard the two to focus on here.
