Jumping fans in the North West are in for a real treat on Wednesday evening with Sligo staging a six-race card dominated by chases to get their two-day August meeting underway, the first race due off at 5.25pm.
The €20,000 BoyleSports Handicap Chase (6.25) is the feature event with seven runners declared headed by top-weight Round Tower, trained by Karl Thornton in Skerries. Course winner Eight Till Late, trained by avid Dublin fan Peter Casey, is seeking his third consecutive victory this summer but he faces some stiff opposition, notably from recent Tipperary winner Eiri Na Casca from the in-form Cloughjordan yard of trainer/rider Denis Hogan.
Dont Kick Nor Bite has a point-to-point, bumper and two wins over hurdles on her cv so far and Kinsale trainer Robert Tyner will be hoping to add the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase (6.55) to it in the hands of Barry Geraghty, one of two rides at the meeting for the Meathman.
Racing concludes with the ultra competitive Glasshouse Hotel Handicap Chase (7.55) with a maximum field of 16 runners going to post. The line up includes two veterans, the 14yo Drop Anchor, trained by Batterstown-based Edward Cawley and 13yo Tomcoole Lad from the Gowran yard of Dick Donohoe.
The going at Sligo is currently yielding, soft in places.
Dave Keena looks ahead for Ocean FM…
