Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Sunday 8 November 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.
Rialannah
Gavin Sheehan is the hottest jockey on the card right now — 16 winners from 55 rides in the last month is a 29% clip that demands respect, and he's on the top-rated horse into the bargain. Rialannah at 11/2 looks like the one the market hasn't quite caught up with yet.
- Gavin Sheehan — 29% strike rate last 30d (16/55)
- SR 119 — top of the card
Four independent signals stacking up on a horse with an SR of 98 — that's the top of the entire card at Sandown. Back from 63 days off and placed last time out, Novelista is the one to watch at 15/2.
- SR 98 — top of the card
- 4 independent signals aligned
- 63 days off the track — placed last time
Rebecca Curtis is firing at 31% over the last month and the market has already clocked it — Genietoile is a strict-majority steamer with nobody pushing the other way. Top SR on the card at 104, and the money is talking louder than the 13/2 suggests.
- Rebecca Curtis — 31% strike rate last 30d (4/13)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 104 — top of the card
Sean Bowen is firing at 26% over the last 30 days and Olly Murphy is matching him stride for stride at 24% — when that combination lands on the top-rated horse on the card, it demands attention. Esprit Sauvage sits at 11/2 and that looks generous.
- Sean Bowen — 26% strike rate last 30d (28/107)
- Olly Murphy — 24% strike rate last 30d (16/66)
- SR 94 — top of the card
Top SR on the card at 108, and Darragh O'Keeffe is firing at 21% over the last 30 days — that combination at 8/1 is worth noting. De Bromhead clocking 19% in the same window means this yard is in form, and Mister Pessimistic is getting the right pilot at the right time.
- SR 108 — top of the card
- Darragh O'Keeffe — 21% strike rate last 30d (13/63)
- Henry de Bromhead — 19% strike rate last 30d (15/78)