Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Thursday 2 July 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.
The Flying Poet
Two wins already at Perth and placed in every run this season — The Flying Poet knows this track and is bang in form right now. An SR of 107, within two points of his career best, tells you the engine is running close to full capacity with Sean Bowen in the saddle.
- Placed in last 3 starts (form: 211)
- 2 prior wins at Perth
- SR 107 — near career best (109)
Three places from three — Betteryouthanme is knocking on the door and an SR of 92 sits just a point off a career best of 93. At 10/3 for a horse running at the peak of its powers and topping the card on ratings, that price looks soft.
- Placed in last 3 starts (form: 313)
- SR 92 — near career best (93)
- SR 92 — top of the card
SR 92 tops the card at Kempton tonight, and Breakdancer already knows how to win here — that prior course victory on the AW matters on a track that rewards familiarity. James Doyle lands at 18% across 260 rides, and when he's booked for a Crisford runner with this profile, the stable means business.
- SR 92 — top of the card
- 1 prior win at Kempton (AW)
- James Doyle — 18% career strike rate
Lark In The Mornin has won her last two on the bounce and lands here with the best speed rating on the card at 105 — that combination does not happen by accident. Mullins climbs aboard carrying a 29% career strike rate from 161 rides, and that is a jockey who finds the winner's enclosure far more often than most.
- Won last 2 starts
- Mr P W Mullins — 29% career strike rate
- SR 105 — top of the card
Seed Ya Later has placed in every run this season — 3, 1, 2 — and that SR of 82 sitting just two points off a career best of 84 tells you this horse is running into form, not out of it. Greatrex lands 14% of his rides across 554 attempts, so this is a pairing worth marking up at 6/1.
- Placed in last 3 starts (form: 312)
- SR 82 — near career best (84)
- Edward Greatrex — 14% career strike rate