Royal visitors to Sligo Sligo GAA has it's name attached to the opening maiden hurdle at Sligo on Wednesday but it is the following Duke And Duchess Of Cornwall Mares Maiden Hurdle which provides a clue to the significance of the fixture at the Connaught venue. Both Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles are to visit the picturesque racecourse and while their overall grasp of the runners and form-book might be limited, it is worth remembering that Prince Charles once rode at the Cheltenham Festival. The race run in their honour today may go to the Shay Barry trained Palm Sur, which bounced back to form at Limerick on Sunday. She finished second in a Listed Bumper at Navan in November 2013 and while she missed much of the 2014, is tipped to win on her second hurdle start. Champion Trainer Willie Mullins sends just one horse to the meeting and his Gigginstown House Stud owned Balko Des Flos will bid to follow up his winning bumper debut Leopardstown, in the concluding countysligoraces.com(Pro-Am) Bumper. The French bred four year old son of Balko created a fine impression to win at Leopardstown in January and while he hasn't appeared since, this looks another excellent opportunity. The E11,000 Follow Sligo Races On Facebook Rated Novice Hurdle has some significance in that each of the four runners was a winner last-time out, with top weight I Knew Well now bidding to complete a hat-trick. The J.P. McManus owned gelding has progressed well in recent times and has every chance of following up recent Wexford and Tipperary wins. Credo Star and Poetic Lord were each Wexford winners on their latest starts while the Gigginstown House Stud owned Speed Demon, Davy Condon's last career winner at Cork in April, completes the field. By Tom Weekes
