Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Monday 26 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.
Crossbar
Five signals aligned on the same horse at the same time — that does not happen by accident, and Crossbar is running an SR of 88, a tick above his career best of 85. Clive Cox is firing at 21% over the last 30 days, Rossa Ryan is in the saddle, and 6/1 looks like the market has not done its homework.
- SR 88 — near career best (85)
- 5 independent signals aligned
- Clive Cox — 21% strike rate last 30d (9/42)
Shane Gray is the angle here — 11 winners from 39 rides in the last 30 days is a 28% strike rate that demands attention, and he's landed on a horse that already knows how to win at Leicester. Stone's yard is firing too at 23% this month, so the form behind this one is no fluke.
- Shane Gray — 28% strike rate last 30d (11/39)
- William Stone — 23% strike rate last 30d (3/13)
- 1 prior win at Leicester
Kevin Philippart de Foy is running at 24% over the last 30 days and the market has already clocked Ada Rose — strict-majority money coming in, no drift at all. David Egan in the plate for a red-hot yard at 5/1 is exactly the kind of quiet setup worth marking down.
- Kevin Philippart de Foy — 24% strike rate last 30d (6/25)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
The market's already talking — Timebar is a strict-majority steamer with no drifters in sight, and that kind of clean, one-way money at 6/1 doesn't happen by accident. Roy Bowring doesn't land them often, but when the market moves this decisively with no pushback, it's worth having on the radar.
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
Appleby's yard is running at 26% over the last 30 days and Overbudget arrives at a career-best speed rating — five signals stacked in the same direction is not a coincidence. At 6/1, the market hasn't caught up yet.
- Michael Appleby — 26% strike rate last 30d (15/58)
- SR 75 — near career best (75)
- 5 independent signals aligned