Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Sunday 28 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.
Pony Soprano
Pony Soprano has placed in all three recent starts — 2-1-3 — and that SR of 136 is a career best, not a blip. Harry Skelton lands 27% of his rides and he does not waste them on horses going backwards.
- Placed in last 3 starts (form: 213)
- SR 136 — near career best (135)
- Harry Skelton — 27% career strike rate
Three placed runs on the bounce and an SR of 125 that tops this card — Hope Rising isn't hiding. Gavin Sheehan's 20% career strike rate over 533 rides means he doesn't need luck to find the line.
- Placed in last 3 starts (form: 232)
- Gavin Sheehan — 20% career strike rate
- SR 125 — top of the card
Two wins on the spin and a SR of 125 that puts him clear at the top of this card — Raaheeb arrives here in the kind of form that demands respect. Sixty-five days off is a pause, not a concern, given he came back placed last time and Rossa Ryan doesn't take bookings on horses going backwards.
- Won last 2 starts
- SR 125 — top of the card
- 65 days off the track — placed last time
Back-to-back wins and a 23% career strike rate from Sean Bowen sitting in the saddle — Goodwin Face is the most potent combination on this card. SR 122 puts it clear at the top, and nothing in the signals is asking me to look elsewhere.
- Won last 2 starts
- Sean Bowen — 23% career strike rate
- SR 122 — top of the card
Flying Ace sits top of the card on SR 159 and has won his last two on the bounce, so the form line does the talking before you even clock the jockey. Harry Skelton converts at 27% across 616 rides — that's not a run of luck, that's a machine, and he's booked here.
- Won last 2 starts
- Harry Skelton — 27% career strike rate
- SR 159 — top of the card