Horse Racing Tips: Rhys Williams is taking a two-pronged attack in the opener at Sligo

Promising run last time in stronger race

Sligo 17:00: Lenebane 1pt win 6/1

Lenebane was green on debut when never competitive behind Sawbuck at Punchestown and she built on that on her second start at Cork.

She raced a bit further back than midfield early on and was fifteen lengths behind the leaders with a circuit to go. She made headway down the back straight to get on to the back of the leading group on the long run to 3 out. Bumped along entering the home straight, she wasn't given an overly hard time once she couldn't challenge the leaders but finished strongly on the run in to take fifth.

That was a stronger race than the one Lenebane contests today and given she still looked a bit inexperienced and wasn't given a hard time, there's the potential for her to improve again. They may also looked to ride her handier today having lacked the pace to quicken into a challenging position last time.

There is a slight concern that she may not want the ground to get any softer than the current official description but as long as it stays yielding I think she should be fine on that and any 11/2 or bigger appeals.

Jumping let her down in point debut

Sligo 17:00: Lavinia Fontana 0.5pt win 25/1

Lavinia Fontana was beaten 25 lengths on debut at Kirkistown but shaped better than that suggests and she looks more likely to be suited by today's test.

She regularly lost ground at the fences but was still tracking the leaders going out on the final circuit. She made a mistake at 4 out but recovered to be just in behind the leaders going to 2 out where she was slow and came under pressure on landing. She didn't have much left from that point and came home last of the four finishers.

That looked an unsuitable test for Lavinia Fontana as she lost plenty of ground and momentum with poor jumping and the ground being softer than the official yielding to soft description was against her too.

She's another who wouldn't want any further softening of the ground and she does have to show she can handle this sharp track but in a weak race I think she's overpriced given the potential for improvement and any 18/1 or bigger appeals.