Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Tuesday 28 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.
Trawlerman
Buick landing 39% of his rides in the last month is the headline, but pair that with a Gosden yard firing at 44% — 14 from 32 — and the combination here is hard to walk past. The market's already cottoned on, money coming in with no drift reported, so the 15/8 is the price now and almost certainly not later.
- William Buick — 39% strike rate last 30d (20/51)
- John & Thady Gosden — 44% strike rate last 30d (14/32)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
Secret History is running at a career-best SR of 93 — nudging past her previous ceiling of 92 — and that kind of marginal improvement at the right moment tends to mean business. Ashley Lewis has been firing at 22% over the last 30 days, and with Ed Walker also clicking at 22% in the same window, this yard is in form and they've put their hot claimer up.
- SR 93 — near career best (92)
- Ashley Lewis(5) — 22% strike rate last 30d (12/54)
- Ed Walker — 22% strike rate last 30d (18/80)
Buick is operating at 39% over the last month and Appleby is right behind him at 35%, so when the two combine on a horse already carrying a three-race winning streak, it earns a place on the list fast. Al Hudaiba at 2/1 is as short as the form deserves.
- William Buick — 39% strike rate last 30d (20/51)
- Charlie Appleby — 35% strike rate last 30d (13/37)
- Won last 3 starts
Buick is firing at 39% over the last month and Scott's yard is quietly humming at 24%, so the machine behind Al Aali is running hot right now. The market's already cottoned on — money coming in, no drift — and at 7/1 that price looks borrowed.
- William Buick — 39% strike rate last 30d (20/51)
- George Scott — 24% strike rate last 30d (9/37)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
Joseph Patrick O'Brien is firing at 27% over the last 30 days, and Hardy Warrior walks in carrying an SR of 109 — a whisker off his career best of 112 and the top figure on the card. Hot yard, near-peak form: this one earns its place on the watchlist.
- Joseph Patrick O'Brien — 27% strike rate last 30d (33/122)
- SR 109 — near career best (112)
- SR 109 — top of the card