Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Sunday 9 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.
Folsom Blues
Joseph Patrick O'Brien is firing at 22% over the last 30 days and has sent Folsom Blues out with Dylan Browne McMonagle in the plate — that combination alone puts this horse on the list. SR 103 tops the card and the market is moving one way only, so the money is already talking.
- Joseph Patrick O'Brien — 22% strike rate last 30d (30/137)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 103 — top of the card
Neil Callan and Tom Clover are both firing at 26% and 25% respectively over the last 30 days, and when the stable and the saddle are both this warm at the same time, it warrants close attention. The market has already noticed — money coming in with no drift to speak of — and 10/3 may not hang around.
- Neil Callan — 26% strike rate last 30d (6/23)
- Tom Clover — 25% strike rate last 30d (9/36)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
Patrick Mullins is landing 38% of his rides this month — that's not a hot streak, that's a surgical operation. Culldoo sits at the top of the card on an SR of 95, and when the Mullins stable sends one here in this kind of form, the 5/6 is the price you take.
- Mr P W Mullins — 38% strike rate last 30d (5/13)
- W P Mullins — 25% strike rate last 30d (23/92)
- SR 95 — top of the card
Kaori is running at SR 78, a whisker off her career best of 81, and the market has already clocked it — money's been piling in with not a single drifter in sight. George Boughey's yard is firing at 22% over the last 30 days, and at 13/2 there's still value left on the table.
- SR 78 — near career best (81)
- George Boughey — 22% strike rate last 30d (10/45)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
Four independent signals lining up on the same horse is the kind of alignment that gets my attention fast. SR 119, two points off a career best and top of the card — Big Gossey isn't sneaking up on anyone today.
- SR 119 — near career best (121)
- SR 119 — top of the card
- 4 independent signals aligned