Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Thursday 17 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.
Mirzimaan
Five independent signals lining up on one horse at 11/2 is the kind of confluence that gets a watcher out of his seat, and Mirzimaan is running an SR of 89 — fractionally past his career best of 86. The market is already moving in one direction only, and Billy Loughnane doesn't take soft rides.
- SR 89 — near career best (86)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- 5 independent signals aligned
Money is moving — strict-majority steamer with no drifters, and at 11/2 that tells you plenty about who knows what. Top SR on the card at 152, Billy Loughnane firing at 18% over the last 30 days — Cracking Idea is firmly on the list.
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 152 — top of the card
- Billy Loughnane — 18% strike rate last 30d (28/158)
Money is moving on Rogue Supremacy with no dissenting drift — the market has made its mind up, and when Archie Watson's yard is firing at 19% over the last 30 days you don't argue with it. Top SR on the card at 85, Luke Morris in the plate — this one earned a spot on the watchlist before I'd even finished reading the card.
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- Archie Watson — 19% strike rate last 30d (8/43)
- SR 85 — top of the card
Oisin Murphy is landing 22% of his rides at the moment and he's just been put up on a horse that's already won here twice. Yarmouth form counts at Yarmouth, and Margarson knows this track — Noble Guest is firmly on the list.
- Oisin Murphy — 22% strike rate last 30d (30/135)
- 2 prior wins at Yarmouth
- George Margarson — 14% strike rate last 30d (2/14)
The market is doing the talking here — a strict-majority steamer with zero drifters means the money is going one way and one way only. Ben Coen takes the ride at 6/1, and with a Signal Rating of 62, Wecouldavehaditall earns a place on the watchlist at Naas.
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters