Sligo tips: Progressive Flicker Of Hope can complete hat-trick

Ellen Kelly can get the better of Jana Colombe, a half-sister to Gerri Colombe, in the bumper

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL: Flicker Of Hope, right, en route to winning at Wexford last month. He can strike agaiin by winning at Sligo on Tuesday. Picture: Healy Racing 

A fifth consecutive day of National Hunt racing, this time with Sligo playing host to a low-grade programme on which the progressive Flicker Of Hope can complete a hat-trick by taking the Glasshouse Hotel Qualified Riders’ Handicap Hurdle.

Mark Fahey’s five-year-old gelding made the breakthrough with a good performance in a handicap at Clonmel and made light of a 9lb higher mark when following up at Wexford.

He is burdened with another 8lb in the ratings, but this is only his seventh outing, and he has scope for plenty more improvement. The extra furlong and a half of this race should pose no problem to him, and he can take this at the expense of Joya Del Mar.

The latter is a seven-race maiden but has some promising form in there and should appreciate the step up to this three-mile-two trip. His trainer, Dermot McLoughlin, has his team in good form and the six-year-old can reach the frame.

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Bumper is arguably the most interesting race on the card, and the two Syndicates Racing mares look like the two to concentrate on.

Ellen Kelly, trained by Willie Mullins, may be able to make her experience count. On her only previous outing, she came up shy against the vastly experienced Sansrisk, but it was a good effort, and likely she won’t have to improve too much to go one place better.

The other Syndicates Racing runner is Jana Colombe, a half-sister to Gerri Colombe. She represents Gordon Elliott, and it will be interesting to see what the market makes of her chance.

Verbal Sparring has strong claims in the first division of the Lake Isle Of Innisfree Handicap Hurde, though his record of 19 runs and no wins certainly sounds a note of caution. On three of those outings, he finished second, and a reproduction of the form he showed when runner-up to Cheerful Chap on his most recent outing ought to be enough.

Grand Cru Chatho is capable of winning off his current mark of 93 but hasn’t been seen since November, when he fell in a handicap chase on what was his chasing debut. The market will be the best guide to his chance.

SLIGO 

Selections 

4:45 Kendancer 

5:15 Doyen Magic (NB) 

5:45 Koori Star 

6:15 Verbal Sparring 

6:45 Divilabother 

7:15 I Am Spider Man 

7:45 Flicker Of Hope (Nap) 

8:15 Ellen Kelly 

Next best 

4:45 Broken Ice 

5:15 African Lady 

5:45 Downtherefordancin 

6:15 Grand Cru Chatho 

6:45 Angelsworknovrtime 

7:15 Hypersonic Missile 

7:45 Joya Del Mar 

8:15 Jana Colombe