Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Friday 19 June 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.
True Love
Mr Fox can have her — I had True Love clocked before the editorial stamp landed, because a horse running at a career-best SR of 128 with three consecutive places doesn't need anyone's endorsement. That 212 form line is the argument; Lordan picks up the ride and O'Brien doesn't send horses to Ascot at 11/4 for the day out.
- Mr Fox's editorial pick for this race
- Placed in last 3 starts (form: 212)
- SR 128 — near career best (127)
Three from three and running a career-best SR of 123 — Causeway isn't just in form, she's hitting a ceiling she's never touched before. Moore at 28% over 389 rides doesn't climb aboard without reason.
- Won last 3 starts
- SR 123 — near career best (120)
- Ryan Moore — 28% career strike rate
Three on the spin and the best SR on the card at 112 — Charles Darwin arrives at Ascot in the kind of form that makes 11/1 look like a misprint. He's already won here before, so the track holds no surprises.
- Won last 3 starts
- SR 112 — top of the card
- 1 prior win at Ascot
Three on the bounce and a Skelton operation running at full tilt — at 1/3 there's no value here, but Beorma earns a watch simply because 111 form with a 26% jockey and 20% trainer pairing does not fall apart without a reason. Nothing in these signals gives you that reason.
- Won last 3 starts
- Harry Skelton — 26% career strike rate
- Dan Skelton — 20% career strike rate
Warrant Holder has won his last two on the bounce and arrives at Ascot with an SR of 94 — top of the entire card. Buick at 18% over 276 rides is not a man who wastes his afternoons on lost causes.
- Won last 2 starts
- SR 94 — top of the card
- William Buick — 18% career strike rate