Sly Man's Jockeys Taking Aim — Sunday 1 November 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.
⚡ Harry Skelton is running hotter than a Cheltenham Festival favourite right now — nine winners in seven days from a man who already converts at 27% across 1,743 career rides is not a blip, it's a statement. Five rides today, and the one that matters is Meetmebythelake in the 16:10, a horse carrying a strike-rate of 158 that the booking pages apparently slept through.
- 9 winners in the last 7 days
- 27% career strike rate (1743 rides)
- On Meetmebythelake (SR 158) in the 16:10
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12:38
Fishery Lane T: Dan Skelton7/4 Race at 12:38
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13:13
Keops des Bordes T: Dan Skelton11/10 Race at 13:13
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14:23
Madara T: Dan Skelton9/2 Race at 14:23
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14:58
Doyen Quest T: Dan Skelton3/1 Race at 14:58
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16:10
Meetmebythelake T: Dan Skelton2/1 Race at 16:10
Sean Bowen
⚡ Sean Bowen is on fire right now — seven winners in seven days from a man who already converts at 24% over nearly 2,500 rides is not a hot patch, it's a statement. Pride Hill at 15:05 carries a speed rating of 140 and Bowen in this form is exactly the booking you don't walk past.
- 7 winners in the last 7 days
- 24% career strike rate (2469 rides)
- On Pride Hill (SR 140) in the 15:05
- 12:10 Up To Trix 5/1 Race at 12:10
- 12:45 Kings Champion 9/4 Race at 12:45
- 13:20 Harbour Island 9/1 Race at 13:20
- 13:55 Next Twist 11/2 Race at 13:55
- 15:05 Pride Hill 10/1 Race at 15:05
- 15:40 Theatre Tom 11/8 Race at 15:40
Jack Kennedy
⚡ Jack Kennedy arrives at today's card in full nick — three winners in the last seven days from a man who converts at 23% over 1,263 career rides, which means he is not a fluke in any shape. Marco Du Seuil in the 12:30 carries a speed rating of 156 and Kennedy in the saddle; that pairing is the first thing you mark on the card this morning.
- 3 winners in the last 7 days
- 23% career strike rate (1263 rides)
- On Marco Du Seuil (SR 156) in the 12:30
- 12:30 Marco Du Seuil 11/8 Race at 12:30
- 13:05 Tintara 6/1 Race at 13:05
- 14:15 Theflyingking 9/4 Race at 14:15
- 14:50 Chanceawetmorning 12/1 Race at 14:50
- 15:25 Prends Garde A Toi 18/1 Race at 15:25
- 16:00 Nukie's Artic 11/2 Race at 16:00
Gavin Sheehan
⚡ Gavin Sheehan is running hot — four winners in the last seven days from a man who already converts at 23% across a career spanning 1,336 rides. Get to the 13:20 and watch him aboard Johnny's Jury, a horse with a speed rating of 153 that the lazier columns have barely glanced at.
- 4 winners in the last 7 days
- 23% career strike rate (1336 rides)
- On Johnny's Jury (SR 153) in the 13:20
- 12:10 Joyau Allen 3/1 Race at 12:10
- 13:20 Johnny's Jury 8/11 Race at 13:20
- 13:55 Sweating Bullets 16/1 Race at 13:55
- 14:30 Red Moon 11/2 Race at 14:30
- 15:05 Navy Boy 40/1 Race at 15:05
Paul Townend
⚡ Paul Townend's 38% career strike rate across 908 rides is not a number you ignore, and with only three rides today he is not here to make up numbers. Cosmic Front in the 13:05 carries a speed rating of 147 — that is the ride that matters, and Townend on a horse of that class is a booking worth following.
- 38% career strike rate (908 rides)
- 2 winners in the last 7 days
- On Cosmic Front (SR 147) in the 13:05
- 13:05 Cosmic Front 11/1 Race at 13:05
- 14:15 Roc Dino 13/8 Race at 14:15
- 15:25 Fou De Toi 5/4 Race at 15:25