Sly Man's Jockeys Taking Aim — Thursday 17 September 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.
⚡ Tom Marquand is red-hot right now — four winners in the last seven days from a man whose 16% career strike rate already marks him out as a finisher, not a filler. The 14:45 ride on Howluckyweare at a stratospheric 145 speed rating is the one to circle: six rides across the card suggests the booking team know exactly what they're doing today.
- 4 winners in the last 7 days
- On Howluckyweare (SR 145) in the 14:45
- 6 rides across the card
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14:45
Howluckyweare T: William Haggas7/1 5th
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15:15
Soldier of The Sea T: William Knight5/1 8th
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15:45
Art Lover T: William Haggas8/1 🥉 3rd
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16:15
Divine Knight T: William Haggas5/2 🏆 WON
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16:45
Wise Crack T: Ruth Carr11/1 5th
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17:15
Packetofbiscuits T: John Mackie18/1 🥈 2nd
Colin Keane
⚡ Colin Keane rolls in carrying real momentum — three winners in the last seven days and a seven-ride book that tells you the yards want him firing today. The 15:52 mount Cudawudashuda, rated 147, is the one to follow; Keane doesn't get handed SR 147 horses for the scenery.
- 3 winners in the last 7 days
- 7 rides across the card
- On Cudawudashuda (SR 147) in the 15:52
- 13:50 Bougie Gals 10/1 4th
- 14:52 Abletai 5/1 7th
- 15:22 Lily Bear 12/1 5th
- 15:52 Cudawudashuda 17/2 4th
- 16:25 Highest Order 13/2 12th
- 16:56 Star Glory 2/1 Race at 16:56
- 17:32 Soldat 11/2 4th
Oisin Murphy
⚡ Oisin Murphy is running hot right now — seven winners in seven days is not a purple patch, that is a man in full command of his craft. He takes the wheel on Wykehurst Park in the 14:45, a horse rated 131, and with a 22% career strike rate underpinning the confidence, this is the ride you do not scroll past.
- 7 winners in the last 7 days
- 22% career strike rate (2687 rides)
- On Wykehurst Park (SR 131) in the 14:45
- 14:15 Casablanca Dream 10/3 🥉 3rd
- 14:45 Wykehurst Park evn 🏆 WON
- 15:15 Easy Answer 17/2 7th
- 15:45 Midnight Thunder 5/2 8th
- 16:45 Noble Guest 6/1 9th
- 17:15 Mountain of Light 17/2 9th
Billy Loughnane
⚡ Billy Loughnane is the hottest body on the card today — eight winners in the last seven days is not a purple patch, it is a full-blown raid, and the booking agents clearly know it with seven rides already locked in. At 18% career from 3,000 rides he is no flash in the pan, so back him across the card and let the momentum do the work.
- 8 winners in the last 7 days
- 7 rides across the card
- 18% career strike rate (3000 rides)
- 14:15 Whiskey Galore 11/4 7th
- 14:45 Cracking Idea 11/2 8th
- 15:15 Mirzimaan 11/2 🥉 3rd
- 15:45 Westport 12/1 6th
- 16:15 Educator 14/1 9th
- 16:45 Currahee 15/2 11th
- 17:15 Forever Endless 33/1 7th
W. J. Lee
⚡ W. J. Lee has gone to war this week — five winners in seven days tells you the licence is lit and the yard calls are coming in thick — and eight rides today means connections have noticed. Get on Pirate Anne Bonny in the 13:50, a speed-rated 148 that looks nailed on to have Lee in the winner's enclosure before the card is halfway done.
- 5 winners in the last 7 days
- 8 rides across the card
- On Pirate Anne Bonny (SR 148) in the 13:50
- 13:50 Pirate Anne Bonny 11/2 🥈 2nd
- 14:22 Blimey 40/1 9th
- 14:52 New Bond Street 4/9 🏆 WON
- 15:22 Summer Sent You 7/2 12th
- 15:52 Hazy Sky 14/1 7th
- 16:25 Elyatta 10/3 4th
- 16:56 Consenza 14/1 9th
- 17:32 Nouveau Grey 10/1 🏆 WON