Sly Man's Jockeys Taking Aim — Thursday 20 August 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.
⚡ Oisin Murphy is running hot — four winners in the last seven days and trainers have clearly clocked it, handing him a seven-ride book across the card today. At 21% career strike rate over 1332 rides, this is not a man in a purple patch by accident; back him early and back him often.
- 4 winners in the last 7 days
- 7 rides across the card
- 21% career strike rate (1332 rides)
-
13:50
Moonrise T: Andrew Balding12/1 Race at 13:50
-
14:25
Glorious Game T: Hugo Palmer28/1 14th
-
15:00
The Lost King T: Andrew Balding10/1 🏆 WON
-
15:35
Inis Mor T: David Menuisier16/1 8th
-
16:10
Prizeland T: Andrew Balding14/1 🏆 WON
-
16:45
Rising Tiger T: Andrew Balding6/1 4th
-
17:20
Machadadorp T: Andrew Balding9/1 🏆 WON
William Buick
⚡ William Buick rolls into today with a 20% career strike rate across 376 rides and two winners already banked this week — the engine is ticking over nicely. That Group 1 booking in the Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks at 15:35 is the one that matters, and Buick in a Group 1 is not a jockey you want to be running against.
- 2 winners in the last 7 days
- 20% career strike rate (376 rides)
- Booked in Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) at 15:35
- 13:50 Jolivette 33/1 🥉 3rd
- 15:00 Mezcala 17/2 Race at 15:00
- 15:35 Legacy Link 12/1 9th
- 16:10 Without Prejudice 6/1 Race at 16:10
- 16:45 Mirzimaan 9/1 18th
Harry Skelton
⚡ Harry Skelton carries a 27% career strike rate into five rides today — that's not luck, that's a man who wins nearly one in three, and the market should already know his name. Fine Thing at 17:35 is the one to watch: a SuperRating of 160 is the kind of number that makes the booking look deliberate, not routine.
- 27% career strike rate (684 rides)
- 2 winners in the last 7 days
- On Fine Thing (SR 160) in the 17:35
- 17:35 Fine Thing 15/8 🏆 WON
- 18:06 Notnowlinda 4/1 4th
- 19:06 Krak 5/2 🥈 2nd
- 19:36 Glenmalure Flyer 9/4 🏆 WON
- 20:06 Berry Edge 9/4 Race at 20:06
James Doyle
⚡ James Doyle arrives at the track red-hot with three winners in the last seven days, and whoever put him in the Yorkshire Oaks saddle at 15:35 knew exactly what they were doing. An 18% career strike rate over 349 rides tells you this is not a man who wastes Group 1 appearances.
- 3 winners in the last 7 days
- 18% career strike rate (349 rides)
- Booked in Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) at 15:35
- 13:50 Wild Blossom 6/1 6th
- 14:25 Weekend Roar 80/1 15th
- 15:00 Blue Brother 15/2 5th
- 15:35 Earth Shot 20/1 4th
- 16:10 A La Prochaine 3/1 13th
Dylan Browne McMonagle
⚡ Dylan Browne McMonagle has banged in four winners in the last seven days and walks into a Group 1 this afternoon with Johanna Walsh — a horse carrying a speed rating of 126 — so the booking in the 15:35 Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks is no accident. A 15% career strike rate over 1033 rides tells you this lad delivers when the yard trusts him, and right now the yard trusts him with the big one.
- 4 winners in the last 7 days
- Booked in Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) at 15:35
- On Johanna Walsh (SR 126) in the 15:35
- 13:50 Star Of State 5/2 🥈 2nd
- 14:25 Secret Society 80/1 7th
- 15:00 Eternal Force 12/1 7th
- 15:35 Johanna Walsh 4/1 6th
- 16:10 Vauntingly 7/1 5th