Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Friday 2 October 2026
Nothing shorter than 5/1 makes my book. I'm looking beyond the obvious — but they still have to earn their place.
Five worth watching today. Read the rating, read the angle, then make up your own mind. I'm the wiry one in the silks reading form on a tablet while the favourites warm up — here's what's caught my eye.
Glory And Honour
Rebecca Hitchen claims 7lb and has won 3 of her last 5 rides — that kind of heat doesn't go unnoticed, and the market has already clocked it with money piling in. Sam England is firing at 23% this month and when the yard and jockey signals stack like this at 13/2, Glory And Honour goes straight on the watchlist.
- Rebecca Hitchen(7) — 60% strike rate last 30d (3/5)
- Sam England — 23% strike rate last 30d (7/31)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
Come On The Lads tops the card with an SR of 104 and the market is moving with purpose — strict-majority steamer, no drift, money talking cleanly. At 15/2, Donoghue and Cromwell have something they fancy here.
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 104 — top of the card
Money is landing on Killybegs Jet Lady with no one pushing back — strict-majority steamer, cleanest move on the card. SR 98 puts her at the top of the pile here, and that combination is not something you walk past at 13/2.
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 98 — top of the card
Money is moving on Ardera Gun with no drifters in the market — a strict-majority steamer at 9/1 is a signal worth filing away. SR 76 puts this one at the top of the card, and when the two stack up together, Meyler and Doyle's runner earns a firm spot on the watchlist.
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 76 — top of the card
Near Perfection tops this card with an SR of 141 — that's not a fluke, that's a horse showing up with something to prove at 12/1. Gavin Ryan doesn't take these bookings lightly, and the O'Brien yard doesn't send them to Dundalk just to make up the numbers.
- SR 141 — top of the card