Something for everyone on a busy Friday There is no shortage of interest for Irish racing fans today with jumping action at Sligo, all-weather racing this evening under the lights in Dundalk and also plenty of raiders in the UK as racing returns to Cheltenham. Pat Smullen is remembered in the Al Basti-sponsored Mercury Stakes at Dundalk and there are three English runners with the Charlie Hills-trained May Sonic joined by the Karl Burke pair Dandalla and Lady In France. There is a strong home defence for this Group 3 sprint with Urban Beat, winner of the valuable Rockingham Handicap, and Harry’s Bar — successful here three times in the past 12 months — holding obvious claims. The first on an eight-race card gets underway at 4.45pm while earlier the focus is on jumping at Sligo with a seven-race fixture commencing at 1.10pm. The going at Sligo is currently Yielding, Good to Yielding in places, following 8mm of rain since declarations. Some light showers are forecast this morning. Gordon Elliott is well represented at Cheltenham where a total of 11 Irish-trained runners are declared, while Ger O’Leary also has a couple of runners at Newbury.
