Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Thursday 12 November 2026
Nothing shorter than 5/1 makes my book. I'm looking beyond the obvious — but they still have to earn their place.
By Sly Man12 Nov 2026 · 2 min read
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.
JSean Flanagan
TE McNamara
Steamer 15:48 Thurles
1Mad Maxios
Mad Maxios sits top of the card on SR 85 and the market is already talking — strict-majority money coming in, no drift to suggest doubt.
Sean Flanagan takes the mount for McNamara and this one is firmly on the watchlist at 6/1.
The case
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- Rating SR 85top of the card
JEoin Staples (5)
TDonncha Duggan
Hot Hands 12:53 Thurles
2Island McCoo
Eoin Staples is running at 25% over the last 30 days and Duggan has handed him the ride on the best-rated horse on the card — that combination doesn't come together by accident.
Island McCoo at 8/1 is the one to watch at Thurles.
The case
- Rating SR 77top of the card
JConor Clarke (7)
TE Seymour
14:38 Thurles
3Tir Og
Tir Og sits top of the card at Thurles with an SR of 110 — that's not a number you ignore in a 14:38 field.
Conor Clarke takes the ride with his 7lb claim still intact, which is the kind of small edge that keeps the price honest at 5/1.
The case
- Rating SR 110top of the card
JCharlie Hammond
TStuart Edmunds
Steamer 15:01 Market Rasen
4Fireball Frenzy
Money is moving on Fireball Frenzy with no drifters in sight — a strict-majority steam at 11/2 is the clearest signal on the card.
Top SR of 86 and Edmunds hitting 15% in the last 30 days makes this the one to watch at Market Rasen.
The case
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- Rating SR 86top of the card
JDarragh O'Keeffe
THenry de Bromhead
Hot Hands 15:15 Thurles
5Daisy Fingall
Darragh O'Keeffe is firing at 21% over the last 30 days and de Bromhead's yard is running hot alongside him at 19% — when that combination shows up, it's rarely an accident.
SR 80 tops the card, and at 11/2 this is exactly the kind of quiet double-header the market hasn't fully priced in.
The case
- Rating SR 80top of the card
