1.30 Family Day At Sligo Races Maiden Hurdle 2m 1f 80y

The Gordon Elliott-trained Mordor should finally record an overdue success over flights. A consistent gelding in recent starts, the son of Roaring Lion has reached the frame on four of his seven starts. It will be somewhat disappointing for connections if he fails to avail of what looks an ideal opportunity.

Andrew McNamara’s Leitzel looks the main threat. Runner-up at Bellewstown in April, the filly again ran well when third at Ballinrobe the following month. However, she faced nothing of the calibre of Mordor in either race. 

SELECTION: MORDOR 

Next best: Leitzel 

2.00 CT Electrical Maiden Hurdle 2m 1f 80y

With an official rating of 102, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Bobbi Gin Tree sets the standard. The daughter of Kingston Hill has shown enough in three outings to suggest she can win races, although handicaps may have afforded the five-year-old her best chance. Connections have done well to find this winnable maiden. Kimjoy has failed to complete on two of her last three starts but the Mahler mare was in the process of running big races on both those occasions. Granted a clear round, the Stuart Crawford-trained five-year-old should be competitive. 

SELECTION: BOBBI GIN TREE 

Next best: Kimjoy 

2.35 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f 180y

Red Ball Of Fire can follow up her victory in last year’s renewal of this race. The locally-trained seven-year-old is back on an identical mark to that from which she won off 12 months ago. With all three career successes coming over this course and distance, Mark McNiff’s mare knows her way around this tight track. 

Glendars Mahler, a course and distance winner of her maiden hurdle, is a mare who appreciates a tight right-handed venue. It would be no surprise to see the James Fahey-trained eight-year-old attempt to make all. 

SELECTION: RED BALL OF FIRE 

Next best: Glendars Mahler 

3.05 Friends of Brian Mulligan Opportunity Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f 80y

Although dropping back markedly in trip, the Katy Brown-trained Full Noise is hard to get away from. Well-supported on his stable debut when runner-up at Navan in February, he undoubtedly ran into a well handicapped mare on the day. With the winner going on to win three of her next four starts and rising 44lb in the ratings, time has shown he faced an impossible task.  The John Ryan-trained Thunder is an interesting contender back over flights. A faller on both runs over fences to date, the six-year-old is likely to adopt his customary front-running tactics. 

SELECTION: FULL NOISE 

Next best: Thunder 

3.40 Kilcawley Construction Handicap Hurdle (Div l) 2m 3f 194y

The Cian Collins-trained Steps In The Sand can open her account under National Hunt rules on just her third run over hurdles for the stable.

A winner on the flat at Southwell in March, the five-year-old has finished runner-up on both occasions since reverting to flights. Stepping up in trip here should suit the mare. Barbaha Queen, a recent winner over fences at Clonmel, has every chance under David Doyle. John Ryan’s mare is able to race off a 5lb lower mark back over flights. 

SELECTION: STEPS IN THE SAND 

Next best: Barbaha Queen 

4.15 Kilcawley Construction Handicap Hurdle (Div ll) 2m 3f 194y

La Hacienda can step up on her recent Downpatrick third to gain a first success over hurdles. Rated 88 on the flat, the Matthew Smith-trained mare looked seriously well-handicapped in this discipline prior to her latest outing. Having shown that she retains plenty of ability, it would be no surprise to see the seven-year-old run up a sequence. The locally trained Pettigo hadn’t shown a great deal in four starts prior to an absence but appears to have benefitted from that time off.

It would be no surprise to see her step up on a recent runner-up placing at Downpatrick. 

SELECTION: LA HACIENDA 

Next best: Pettigo 

4.50 Sligo Park Hotel Handicap Hurdle 3m 1f 146y

The Mark Fahey-trained Flicker Of Hope can complete the hat-trick under Aidan Kelly. A winner at Clonmel in May, the five-year-old followed up that success when stepping up to three miles for the first time at Wexford on his next run. With an additional furlong and a half to travel here, he can being his stamina into play. 

Recent Kilbeggan maiden hurdle winner Mr Dibbs has to enter calculations if staying this trip. Having won over two and a half miles last time, the Adrian Murray-trained gelding makes a significant step up in trip.

SELECTION: FLICKER OF HOPE 

Next best: Mr Dibbs 

5.25 Durkin Bros. Electrical INH Flat Race 2m 2f 59y

Barry Connell can take this closing race with Apple’s Of Bresil. The six-year-old ran a big race when finishing a close third on his most recent bumper start at Navan in November. The runner-up has franked that form by winning both his bumper and maiden hurdle since. Having run well when third over hurdles at Christmas, reverting to this company should bring a first success. 

Iamagetaway ran better than his final placing suggests when sixth at Leopardstown over Christmas. If fit and ready after an absence, the James Fahey-trained gelding would be a serious contender. 

SELECTION: APPLE’S OF BRESIL 

Next est: Imagetaway