Sly Man's Horses to Watch — Wednesday 29 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.
Gstaad
SR 134 edges past his career best of 132, and the market is already moving — strict-majority money in, no drifters to soften the picture. Ryan Moore in the saddle at Goodwood seals it: this one's on the list.
- Mr Fox's editorial pick for this race
- SR 134 — near career best (132)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
James Owen is firing at 27% over the last month and Zahra Dodville carries his yard's form right into the top SR slot on the card. The market has already clocked it — strict-majority money coming, no drifters, at a very workable 9/1.
- James Owen — 27% strike rate last 30d (26/98)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
- SR 115 — top of the card
Running an SR of 101 against a career best of 104, Crownbreaker is hitting form at exactly the right moment — and Kevin Philippart De Foy's 23% strike rate over the last 30 days tells you the yard is firing. The market has already spotted it: strict-majority money in, no drifters, and 4/1 is the price before the crowd catches up.
- SR 101 — near career best (104)
- Kevin Philippart De Foy — 23% strike rate last 30d (5/22)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
Ghiani and Owen are both running at 26–27% over the last 30 days, and when you put that pairing together at 15/2 the market has already noticed — strict-majority money coming in, no drift. Radiant Beauty is the yard-and-jockey combination in form right now, and the price won't last.
- Marco Ghiani — 26% strike rate last 30d (20/77)
- James Owen — 27% strike rate last 30d (26/98)
- Money coming — strict-majority steamer, no drifters
O'Brien is firing at 28% over the last 30 days and has sent this one here at a career-best 96 SR — that combination doesn't happen by accident. McMonagle at 22% in the same window is the final piece; Goodwood at 9/2 looks workable.
- Joseph Patrick O'Brien — 28% strike rate last 30d (33/117)
- SR 96 — near career best (93)
- Dylan Browne McMonagle — 22% strike rate last 30d (23/106)