Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Thursday 23 July 2026
Five names off today's card. Not the headline favourites — the ones with a story the form book half-mentions.
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.
Alma Latina
Alma Latina is running at a career-best SR of 98 with Beckett firing at 24% over the last 30 days, and the market is steaming with no drifters — that is not a coincidence. The angle is simple: peak form meeting peak trainer form, and the money has already decided.
- SR 98 — near career best (97)
- Ralph Beckett — 24% strike rate last 30d (23/94)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
Buick is running at 36% over the last month and Appleby's yard is equally lit — when both signals fire together, the market tends to know something, and sure enough the money is coming in with nothing drifting. Jassas at 10/11 looks like a horse the stable expects to win today.
- William Buick — 36% strike rate last 30d (18/50)
- Charlie Appleby — 26% strike rate last 30d (10/38)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
David Egan has won 20 of his last 84 rides in the past month — that 24% clip is the number that catches the eye — and Tom Clover is running at 23% in the same window, so this stable is firing. The market's already cottoning on with a strict-majority steam behind Round The Table, and at 4/11 the professionals aren't hanging around.
- David Egan — 24% strike rate last 30d (20/84)
- Tom Clover — 23% strike rate last 30d (7/31)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
Colin Keane is firing at 22% over the last 30 days and he's been booked for the best-rated runner on the card. The market's already clocked it — money coming in, no pushback — so 13/2 won't be around long.
- Colin Keane — 22% strike rate last 30d (22/102)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 90 — top of the card
Alpha tops the card on SR 165, Moore is striking at 22% over the last 30 days, and the market is steaming with no drifters in sight. At 2/7 there's no value to chase, but this one's on the watchlist because when all three signals line up this cleanly, you're watching a well-laid plan unfold.
- Ryan Moore — 22% strike rate last 30d (10/45)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 165 — top of the card