Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Monday 31 August 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.
Rogue Jewel
Bethell is running at 28% over the last month and the market is already leaning in — money coming with no drifters is the kind of signal that sharpens attention fast. Rogue Jewel tops the card on SR at 101, Tudhope in the saddle, and the whole picture points one way.
- Edward Bethell — 28% strike rate last 30d (15/54)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 101 — top of the card
Caughtinyourtrance is running an SR of 131 — two shy of a career best and top of the entire card at Cartmel — and the market is already moving, with steamer money coming in and no drifters to suggest doubt. Brian Hughes doesn't pick up rides like this without reason, and the signals here are pointing in one direction.
- SR 131 — near career best (133)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 131 — top of the card
Divilabother lands at the top of the card on an SR of 119 — a tick above his previous best of 116, which means he's sharpening at exactly the right moment. Tristan Davidson's yard is firing at 24% in the last 30 days, and that's not a stable sending horses out to make up the numbers.
- SR 119 — near career best (116)
- Tristan Davidson — 24% strike rate last 30d (4/17)
- SR 119 — top of the card
Jennie Candlish is firing at 27% over the last 30 days and French Affair arrives here at a career-best SR of 94 — top of the entire card. That combination doesn't turn up by accident.
- Jennie Candlish — 27% strike rate last 30d (8/30)
- SR 94 — near career best (94)
- SR 94 — top of the card
Six signals aligned and the market already moving — Perfect Scoundrel is running at SR 81, within two points of a career best, and the money is coming in without a single drifter to muddy it. Havlin and Perrett don't tend to turn up at Epsom in this kind of form without meaning it.
- SR 81 — near career best (83)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- 6 independent signals aligned