7:30 Sligo Tips

Four runs for the 3yo this year, finding his form in the last two starts. Two starts back he was a close 4th of 15. Last time out, 6th of 19 but he was drawn very wide on the far side while the placed runners came up the near side. Looking like he has ability and this handicap race is weak looking.

Had excuse latest when forced out wide and faded late over 7f finishing in sixth place. Won well over 6f before that and back to 6f today and in what looks a weaker race. Solid each way chance.

A difficult event particularly that there may be some rainfall headed here @Sligo. It's not the biggest price but I do like the chances of Laura Hourigan's 3 year old Filly SHE'S ON THE BALL who wasn't awful against older rivals last time out @Fairyhouse where she was bumped 2 from home. This Daughter of BLUE POINT's penultimate run @limerick on yielding ground 2lbs lower over 7f was ok but ran out of steam 1f out. 6f looks the right trip & with pro jockey Robbie Colgan booked I'm happy to side with this charge.

Apothic Red is high in the weights for a horse yet to make the frame in any of his six races so far but he was not beaten far in his last three races when 6th of 21, 5th of 18 or 7th of 12 and he has the plum draw here in stall 1 for this sharp turning course.

Best run on turf to date was a third place finish at Fairyhouse in June, and mark five pounds lower today. Mixed results since but wasn't beaten far in a big field at Cork last time, and he may be ready to double his career win tally.

The Love Machine won at 6f on yielding ground and is racing on similar conditions here, making the shorter trip ideal for her.

In an open handicap, the 3-year-old is racing against a field where few runners exhibit notable form. With Wesley Jiyce riding, the gelding stands a decent chance of placing at 33/1, provided he can enhance his performance from a recent 5th place finish.

Magna Kotcha makes appeal off a workable OR 60 in this 6f handicap. She gets a useful booking in Dylan Browne McMonagle, whose 27.08% strike-rate is notable, and this unexposed 3-year-old could improve sharply with the step back to 6f.