Sligo Race 7 - Apex Controls Ltd. Handicap
DOWN THE GLEN (1) appeals as the leading chance, having won at Galway over 1408m on heavy ground last October and finishing 2nd at Bellewstown over 1586m before that. MISTY COVE (2) showed promise with a 3rd at Kempton over 2211m last start and looks suited stepping up in trip. PLINY (5) was runner-up at Dundalk over 1408m in March and has been racing consistently in stronger company. SANDS CASTLE (4) improved to finish 4th at Gowran Park last start and could progress further. These four shape as the key contenders based on recent efforts.
Jockey: Siobhan Rutledge
Weight: 63kgs
Stats
Comments
Last start 6th of 13 at Curragh over 1609m on 19 Apr, beaten 6.25L with 59kg on soft going at $11. Won two starts back at Galway over 1408m on heavy ground by 3L at $9. Steps up 547m in distance and rises 4kg in weight. Can feature with the right run.
Last Starts 14 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/13 | 19/04/2026 | - | 3Y HCP | $21,001.00 | Curragh | 1609m | SOFT | Donagh Oconnor | 59kg | - | - | 6 |
| 6.25L | $11.00 |
| 1/15 | 27/10/2025 | - | 2Y HCP | $12,501.00 | Galway | 1408m | HEAVY | Donagh Oconnor | 60kg | - | - | 12 |
| 3L | $9.00 |
| 2/11 | 02/10/2025 | - | 2Y HCP | $11,499.00 | Bellewstown | 1586m | SOFT | Shane Foley | 59.5kg | - | - | 5 |
| 5L | $7.00 |
| 8/14 | 05/09/2025 | - | 2Y HCP | $11,499.00 | Down Royal | 1432m | GOOD | Donagh Oconnor | 60kg | - | - | 13 |
| 5.35L | $9.00 |
| 5/9 | 22/08/2025 | - | 2Y HCP | $15,000.00 | Killarney | 1636m | GOOD | Shane Foley | 56.5kg | - | - | 2 |
| 3.55L | $7.50 |
| 12/17 | 23/07/2025 | - | 2Y MDN | $18,001.00 | Naas | 1193m | SOFT | Donagh Oconnor | 60.5kg | - | - | 2 |
| 14.15L | $41.00 |
| 5/8 | 05/07/2025 | - | 2Y | $25,000.00 | Naas | 1193m | GOOD | Donagh Oconnor | 59kg | - | - | 7 |
| 10.6L | $81.00 |
| 11/15 | 13/06/2025 | - | 2Y MDN | $20,000.00 | Fairyhouse | 1207m | GOOD | Donagh Oconnor | 59.5kg | - | - | 18 |
| 10.25L | $34.00 |
Jockey: Billy Lee
Weight: 63kgs
Stats
Comments
Last start 3rd of 9 at Kempton over 2211m on 19 Jan, beaten 2.75L with 58kg at $4.33, settling handy throughout. Prior run 4th of 12 at Dundalk over 1609m, beaten 4.55L at $29. Steps up in weight and returns from a 104-day break. Can feature with further improvement.
Last Starts 104 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/9 | 19/01/2026 | - | GBB/GBBPlus Race | $11,805.00 | Kempton | 2211m | GOOD | Saffie Osborne | 58kg | - | 3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3 | 2 |
| 2.75L | $4.33 |
| 4/12 | 17/12/2025 | - | 2yo | $20,000.00 | Dundalk | 1609m | GOOD | Shane Foley | 57.5kg | - | - | 1 |
| 4.55L | $29.00 |
Jockey: Hugh Horgan
Weight: 61.5kgs
Stats
Comments
Finished 13th of 13 last start at Curragh over 1408m on 28 Mar, beaten 34.25L on soft going at $201. Previous run was 12th of 16 at Curragh over 1207m on heavy, also well beaten. Steps up 748m in distance and carries 1.5kg more. Needs to show significant improvement.
Last Starts 36 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13/13 | 28/03/2026 | - | CL1 | $20,000.00 | Curragh | 1408m | SOFT | Luke Mcateer | 60kg | - | - | 9 |
| 34.25L | $201.00 |
| 12/16 | 15/03/2026 | - | 3UP MDN | $20,000.00 | Curragh | 1207m | HEAVY | Luke Mcateer | 60.5kg | - | - | 9 |
| 23.35L | $151.00 |
| 8/12 | 27/10/2025 | - | 2Y MDN | $15,000.00 | Galway | 1408m | HEAVY | Luke Mcateer | 60.5kg | - | - | 5 |
| 10.6L | $151.00 |
Jockey: Robbie Colgan
Weight: 60kgs
Stats
Comments
Improved to finish 4th of 15 at Gowran Park over 1609m on 22 Apr, beaten 6.45L behind Perisher at $301. Previous two runs were well beaten on heavy ground. Steps up 547m in distance and rises 1.5kg in weight. Can improve further with recent form showing some progress.
Last Starts 11 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/15 | 22/04/2026 | - | 3Y MDN | $16,998.00 | Gowran Park | 1609m | SOFT | Killian Leonard | 58.5kg | - | - | 3 |
| 6.45L | $301.00 |
| 14/20 | 02/11/2025 | - | Smullen Series | $25,000.00 | Curragh | 1609m | HEAVY | Wesley Joyce | 58kg | - | - | 8 |
| 36.45L | $201.00 |
| 10/11 | 20/10/2025 | - | Smullen Series | $25,000.00 | Gowran Park | 1677m | HEAVY | Killian Leonard | 55kg | - | - | 9 |
| 33.3L | $201.00 |
Jockey: J M Sheridan
Weight: 59kgs
Stats
Comments
Finished 8th of 8 at Cork over 2436m last start, beaten 4.8L with 57kg at $29. Prior to that was 5th of 13 at Navan on heavy ground, beaten 10.29L at $26. Best recent effort was a 2nd at Dundalk over 1408m four runs back. Can improve back in trip.
Last Starts 9 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/8 | 24/04/2026 | - | 3yo | $15,000.00 | Cork | 2436m | GD/YD(YD PL) | Adam Caffrey | 57kg | - | - | 5 |
| 4.8L | $29.00 |
| 5/13 | 30/03/2026 | - | 3Y HCP | $12,000.00 | Navan | 2012m | HEAVY | Colin Keane | 61.5kg | - | - | 4 |
| 10.29L | $26.00 |
| 8/9 | 20/03/2026 | - | 3yo | $15,000.00 | Dundalk | 1609m | GOOD | Colin Keane | 62.5kg | - | - | 9 |
| 13.26L | $4.50 |
| 2/9 | 06/03/2026 | - | 3yo | $9,999.00 | Dundalk | 1408m | GOOD | Colin Keane | 59kg | - | - | 1 |
| 1.37L | $8.00 |
| 7/11 | 29/10/2025 | - | 2Y MDN | $18,001.00 | Dundalk | 1207m | GOOD | Christopher D Hayes | 57.5kg | - | - | 2 |
| 7.25L | $6.00 |
| 11/14 | 08/10/2025 | - | 2Y MDN | $15,000.00 | Navan | 1170m | SOFT | Christopher D Hayes | 57.5kg | - | - | 13 |
| 12.85L | $10.00 |
| 5/14 | 05/09/2025 | - | 2Y MDN | $20,000.00 | Down Royal | 1432m | GOOD | Christopher D Hayes | 58.5kg | - | - | 11 |
| 2.35L | $8.00 |
| 3/11 | 21/08/2025 | - | 2Y MDN | $25,000.00 | Leopardstown | 1435m | GOOD | Colin Keane | 58.5kg | - | - | 11 |
| 1L | $29.00 |
| 9/10 | 06/08/2025 | - | 2Y MDN | $21,001.00 | Sligo | 1226m | GOOD | Colin Keane | 57.5kg | - | - | 4 |
| 7.25L | $9.00 |
Jockey: J Cleary
Weight: 55.5kgs
Stats
Comments
First-up after a 227-day break. Last start finished 6th of 11 at Naas over 1609m on soft going, beaten 11.25L with 58kg at $13 behind Iamimmaculate. Yet to place from three starts but drops 2.5kg here. Needs to show improvement off previous efforts.
Last Starts 227 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/11 | 18/09/2025 | - | 2Y CLAIMING MDN | $18,001.00 | Naas | 1609m | SOFT | M W Hassett | 58kg | - | - | 6 |
| 11.25L | $13.00 |
| 10/11 | 21/08/2025 | - | 2Y MDN | $25,000.00 | Leopardstown | 1435m | GOOD | M W Hassett | 54kg | - | - | 7 |
| 8.35L | $8.50 |
| 7/16 | 26/07/2025 | - | 2YF MDN | $25,000.00 | Gowran Park | 1408m | GOOD | M W Hassett | 53.5kg | - | - | 19 |
| 9.8L | $11.00 |
Jockey: Declan Mcdonogh
Weight: 55kgs
Stats
Comments
First-up after a 165-day break and drops 5.5kg from last start. Finished 8th of 8 at Dundalk over 1408m on 19 Nov, beaten 31.3L with 60.5kg at $126 behind Seoul Force. Yet to place in three starts but resumes with cheek pieces added. Needs to show improvement but can take benefit from the break.
Last Starts 165 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/8 | 19/11/2025 | - | 2Y MDN | $18,001.00 | Dundalk | 1408m | GOOD | Scott Mccullagh | 60.5kg | - | - | 1 |
| 31.3L | $126.00 |
| 11/14 | 24/10/2025 | - | Smullen Series | $25,000.00 | Dundalk | 1609m | GOOD | M W Hassett | 59kg | - | - | 6 |
| 12.3L | $67.00 |
| 12/16 | 16/10/2025 | - | Smullen Series | $25,000.00 | Curragh | 1609m | SOFT | Declan Mcdonogh | 59kg | - | - | 2 |
| 17.6L | $19.00 |
Jockey: Reese Holohan
Weight: 55kgs
Stats
Comments
Last start finished 21st of 23 at Curragh over 1609m on heavy going, beaten 51.65L with 59.5kg at $151. Previous run was 10th of 13 at Dundalk over 2148m, beaten 14.25L at $51. Drops 4.5kg in weight and returns to 1609m. Needs to show significant improvement.
Last Starts 49 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21/23 | 15/03/2026 | - | C & G | $20,000.00 | Curragh | 1609m | HEAVY | Ronan P Whelan | 59.5kg | - | - | 4 |
| 51.65L | $151.00 |
| 10/13 | 27/02/2026 | - | 3yo | $12,000.00 | Dundalk | 2148m | GOOD | Adam Caffrey | 61kg | - | - | 13 |
| 14.25L | $51.00 |
| 7/14 | 30/01/2026 | - | 3Y MDN | $15,999.00 | Dundalk | 1609m | GOOD | Adam Caffrey | 61kg | - | - | 4 |
| 8.45L | $12.00 |
Jockey: Jimmy Dalton
Weight: 54kgs
Stats
Comments
Has finished well back in all three starts, most recently 9th of 9 at Dundalk over 2148m on 1 Apr, beaten 32.55L at $501. Steps up in distance and gets cheek pieces on. Needs to show significant improvement to feature.
Last Starts 32 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/9 | 01/04/2026 | - | 3yo | $16,998.00 | Dundalk | 2148m | GOOD | Rory Mulligan | 53.5kg | - | - | 8 |
| 32.55L | $501.00 |
| 9/9 | 06/03/2026 | - | 3yo | $9,999.00 | Dundalk | 1408m | GOOD | J Cleary | 58kg | - | - | 4 |
| 18.29L | $151.00 |
| 12/14 | 20/02/2026 | - | 3Y FILLIES MDN | $15,000.00 | Dundalk | 1609m | GOOD | J Cleary | 58.5kg | - | - | 17 |
| 14.2L | $101.00 |