7.15 Sligo: the one race you cannot afford to miss on Tuesday

7.15 Sligo
Francie "Banger" Burns Memorial Handicap Hurdle | 2m5f | 4yo+ | RTV

Why is it interesting?

Gavin Cromwell has had his best ever start to a season and he goes in search of a 24th winner of the campaign.

Last year's Champion Hurdle-winning trainer had ten jumps winners in the 2016/2017 season, 33 last term and is on course to surpass that tally with something to spare this time around. The County Meath-based trainer is double-handed with Mutadaffeq and Callthebarman.

Jonathan Moore, who had a spell in Britain with Rebecca Curtis, is enjoying a new lease of life with Cromwell and has already helped himself to 14 winners since the start of May. The Wexford native teams up with Callthebarman, who finished fifth at Cork on his most recent racecourse outing.

Like Cromwell, James Nash is also double-handed and his ultra-consistent My Manekineko is sure to be popular with punters after finishing a close-up third at Tramore last Thursday.

Darragh O'Keeffe is the most prolific jumps rider in Ireland right now having ridden 14 winners in 20 days in a hot streak between July and August, and he rides Mon Storm, who was successful on his last visit to Sligo.

What do the stats say?

The Victor Wilson-trained Mon Storm has become something of a course specialist around Sligo. The eight-year-old has been successful on two of his four visits and his form figures at the venue read 4151. He is running off a mark 5lb higher than his most recent victory.

My Manekineko runs off a mark of 109 but has been successful when rated 116 in the past, so could be well treated if returning to his best.

What the trainers say

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Mutadaffeq and Callthebarman
Mutadaffeq has been a bit disappointing lately and I just can't quite put my finger on what the problem is. We are going to let him take his chance anyway and hopefully he will show a bit more life. Callthebarman ran a lovely race at Cork where the ground was a little bit soft for him. He should go well and seems in very good form.

James Nash, trainer of My Manekineko and Alohamora
We've been using My Manekineko as a lead horse but he has certainly been earning his keep and hopefully he can earn a bit more here. It is Alohamora's first run after a break but she is fit enough to do herself justice. There is some great prize-money on offer and hopefully she can pick up some of it.

Noel Meade, trainer of Iamastartoo
She didn't get much of a run at Downpatrick and a mistake at the second-last left her on the back foot. It was one of those days when Sean [Flanagan] just didn't get to use her properly but she still ran well. I think she has a chance here and Adam [Short] is good value for his 5lb too.

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