Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Friday 25 September 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.
Gaelic Des Chastys
Four independent signals lining up on the same horse at 13/2 is the kind of thing worth putting the tablet down for. Gaelic Des Chastys is running at SR 99 — a tick above her career best — and she's the top-rated on the card at Listowel today.
- SR 99 — near career best (98)
- SR 99 — top of the card
- 4 independent signals aligned
Four independent signals locked in on Gameball, and the money is moving — strict-majority steamer with no drifters to argue against it. SR 132 puts him at the top of the Listowel card, and at 5/1, that price looks short-lived.
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 132 — top of the card
- 4 independent signals aligned
Rodriguez is firing at 23% over the last 30 days and lands on the top-rated runner on the card — that combination at Haydock doesn't go unnoticed. Varian keeps a steady hand in the background, and Anyasi at 5/1 looks like a price the market hasn't quite caught up with yet.
- Callum Rodriguez — 23% strike rate last 30d (14/60)
- SR 97 — top of the card
- Roger Varian — 14% strike rate last 30d (7/50)
Saint Acclaim leads the card at Dundalk with a Speed Rating of 143 — that's not a number you see heading into a 17:30 maiden without noticing. Ben Coen in the plate for Murtagh makes this one worth marking down at 13/2.
- SR 143 — top of the card
Ghiani is running at 24% over 30 days and the market is already moving Lizzana in without a single drifter to argue back — that combination doesn't happen by accident. Top SR on the card at 102 and 7/1 still available: this is the one worth watching.
- Marco Ghiani — 24% strike rate last 30d (21/87)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 102 — top of the card