Market's Field hunts his treble

With plenty of rain forecast, conditions are likely to be testing at Sligo today for its seven race National-Hunt card.

The feature contest on the programme is the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle where the hat-trick-seeking Market's Field is sure to prove popular with punters.

The Enda Bolger-trained five-year-old recorded his first career success over fences at Wexford last month, following up in a handicap hurdle over the course on August 10.

Donal McInerney will again be aboard, and he takes off a valuable 7lbs.

Ruby Walsh is an interesting booking on Small World, and he has solid claims with just 10st 3lb on his back, while top-weight Seskinane and Killarney winner Open To The World are other leading contenders.

Christy Roche trains Open To The World, and he will be represented by Bay Hill in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle.

This six-time winner was a good third at Killarney on his last start and another solid effort can be expected from him with Jody McGarvey in the plate.

Seven horses have been declared for the Diageo Mares Maiden Hurdle with Shanning and True Identity the most interesting.

The former, trained by Willie Mullins, was successful on her sole start on the level in France and can be expected to give a good account in the hands of Walsh.

Newcomer True Identity is trained by Noel Meade, and she is a full-sister to four-time winner The Unit, who was third in a Grade One at Aintree on his last start in April.

Meade has Darkest Flyer in the Hop House 13 Lager Rated Novice Hurdle, and the five-year-old will be bidding to bounce back from a disappointing defeat at Ballinrobe.

Recent course and distance winner Nellie Pledge and top-weight Snugsborough Hall are other leading hopes. Sparky Stowaway looks the safest option in the Carlsberg Maiden Hurdle, while Disparue Celtic Monarch Ancient Empire and Make My Heart Fly are a few for the shortlist in the Callan Tansey Solicitors Handicap Hurdle. Chess Grand Master should prove hard to beat in the concluding Smithwicks Flat Race, with the Dermot Weld-trained newcomer Days Without End, who is related to plenty of smart sorts, appearing to be his chief rival.