Sly Man's Jockeys Taking Aim — Friday 31 July 2026
The riders I'm watching today — the loaded books, the marquee bookings, the form jocks pinging the radar.
Five riders worth watching today. A loaded book is a market signal in itself — when a form jock has multiple chances, the yard sees the day as live. I read the diaries with one eye on the silks, one on the trainer form. Here's what's caught my eye.
⚡ James Doyle walks into Goodwood today carrying real momentum — four winners in the last seven days from a rider who converts at 18% across 319 career rides is not a man going through the motions. Night Raider in the 15:35 is the marquee booking and with Doyle in this nick, that's the one you put a line through at your peril.
- Fox's pick in the 15:35 Goodwood
- 4 winners in the last 7 days
- 18% career strike rate (319 rides)
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13:50
Valiancy T: William Haggas11/4 9th
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15:00
Blue Brother T: Hamad Al Jehani13/2 8th
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15:35
Night Raider T: K. R. Burke5/2 🦊 10th
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16:10
Haatem T: Richard Hannon3/1 5th
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17:20
Devil's Peak T: John & Thady Gosden17/2 🥈 2nd
Ryan Moore
⚡ Ryan Moore is running hot — five winners in seven days and a 27% career strike rate across 467 rides tells you this is a man who converts, not just competes. Get him onside in the King George Qatar Stakes at 15:35; Group 2 company suits a jockey who finds his best when the prize money goes up.
- 5 winners in the last 7 days
- 27% career strike rate (467 rides)
- Booked in King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2) at 15:35
- 13:50 Duke Of Oxford 28/1 15th
- 14:25 Yazin 12/1 7th
- 15:00 Bunyola Bay 11/1 18th
- 15:35 Brussels 22/1 12th
- 16:45 Dubai Champion 7/2 🥈 2nd
- 17:55 Room Fourteen 2/1 🥉 3rd
Oisin Murphy
⚡ Oisin Murphy is in the form of his life right now — five winners in the last seven days — and a 22% career strike rate over 1,238 rides tells you this is no hot streak built on air. The King George Qatar Stakes booking at 15:35 is the one to watch; Group 2 company suits a rider peaking at exactly the right moment.
- 5 winners in the last 7 days
- 22% career strike rate (1238 rides)
- Booked in King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2) at 15:35
- 13:50 Berkshire Sundance 20/1 🥈 2nd
- 15:00 Mister Winston 18/1 14th
- 15:35 Asfoora 11/1 4th
- 16:45 The Dancing Pirate 4/1 7th
- 17:20 Mythical Valentine 22/1 7th
- 17:55 Zgharta 9/2 7th
Billy Loughnane
⚡ Billy Loughnane is red-hot right now — nine winners in the last seven days is a streak you don't ignore, and at 18% career strike rate over 1664 rides he's no flash in the pan. The King George Qatar Stakes booking at 15:35 is the one to watch: Group 2 level, in-form rider, and the favourites pages probably walked straight past it.
- 9 winners in the last 7 days
- 18% career strike rate (1664 rides)
- Booked in King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2) at 15:35
- 14:25 Catullus 12/1 🥉 3rd
- 15:00 Ozat 22/1 15th
- 15:35 Aspect Island 16/1 8th
- 16:10 Ambiente Friendly 14/1 6th
- 17:20 Waterford Castle 9/1 🥉 3rd
- 17:55 Lady Dora Mae 9/1 🥈 2nd
Marco Ghiani
⚡ Ghiani rolls in hot — three winners in the last seven days and a five-ride card tells you connections are backing his eye right now. The 17:50 clinches it: Blue Victory carries a 140 speed rating, and that booking doesn't fall into Ghiani's lap by accident.
- 3 winners in the last 7 days
- On Blue Victory (SR 140) in the 17:50
- 5 rides across the card
- 17:50 Blue Victory 12/1 5th
- 18:25 Golden Island 40/1 🥉 3rd
- 19:00 Jimmy Knocker 5/1 7th
- 19:32 Where's Freddy 4/1 9th
- 20:02 Sibling Rivelry 15/8 🥈 2nd