Award-winning tipster Jason Heavey’s prime horse racing picks this week and past
In a new weekly column, Daily Star Chief Tipster Jason Heavey marks your card with some horses to watch during the coming week – and beyond.
Jason is one of the country’s leading newspaper tipsters. In 2023 he did the rare ‘double’ of winning both national tipping titles – the Racing Post Press Challenge and also the coveted Racing Post Naps Table. He is currently the leading ‘red-top’ tipster in the country in the National Press Challenge table.
Every Thursday, he will bring you the ‘Ante-post Focus’ – a look at some of the big races to come in the next few weeks. ‘This Week’ – some of his tips on horses running over the next few days. And ‘Future Winners’ – horses you should definitely keep an eye on.
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Ante-post Focus
It will be a huge surprise if GSTAAD fails to win Saturday’s Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh. He is currently 4-9 favourite so you’re not going to get rich backing him – unless your pockets are as deep as JP McManus.
But if you like betting each-way then the 8-1 about ALPARSLAN looks a fair punt. Trainer Karl Burke can do no wrong at present and his Newbury Greenham winner will be fresh after sidestepping the English Guineas.
Jim Boyle has taken stable star INTO THE SKY out of this Saturday’s race and will instead run him at Royal Ascot in the Jersey Stakes or the Commonwealth Cup.
He ran a blinder in the English 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket when fourth to Bow Echo and Gstaad – the pair pulling well clear. He is 25-1 for the Commonwealth Cup which looks a great price if, indeed, Boyle chooses that race.
Meanwhile, the Derby is a fortnight on Saturday and it looks wide open. The ante-post market is lively and, at the time of writing, the 10-1 being offered for MALTESE CROSS looks among the best value available.
Winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial, William Haggas’ colt is a likeable type who could relish the hustle and bustle of Epsom.
This Week
Away from the top table, it’s boom or bust for STOCK MARKET (6.40) at Chepstow on Thursday night. He has rattled the crossbar twice in his last two runs at Windsor and Salisbury and looks primed to get his head in front.
Don’t miss TROJAN SOLDIER (7.52) at Pontefract on Friday night. Jedd O’Keeffe’s beast is a progressive horse who won a shade cosily at Ripon last Sunday under a clever ride by young claiming rider Jack Nicholls.
That was an apprentice race which means he will escape a winner’s penalty and Trojan Soldier appears a horse who has stolen a march on the handicapper.
ADORAMUS (6.52) is another of interest at “Ponte Carlo” on Friday night. He went into my trusty notebook after a racecourse debut full of promise, running on strongly at Lingfield to be third. A scopey animal, he looks the type to be suited by the uphill finish at Ponte.
NAKAAHA (6.15) is a filly I’ve been waiting to run and she looks likely to go to Salisbury on Saturday. Trained by Grace Harris, she won twice last summer and hinted that she could be a stronger four-year-old.
She proved her wellbeing with a good second at Bath last month and Nakaaha is well handicapped off a rating of 75.
Future Winners
Here are a few horses to get on next time they run… SURPRISED: Was unfancied at 25-1 when a close third at Carlisle last Monday. She is a winner waiting to happen.
ATLAS MOUNTAIN: The son of Coulsty ran a race full of promise at Nottingham on Tuesday when third at 20-1 in a decent looking maiden. He will now qualify for handicaps after having three runs and his opening rating will be interesting.
OCEANS SIX: Brian Meehan’s two-year-old showed up well on his debut at Newbury and looks capable of winning races.
THE BOOKKEEPER: This fellow was nearly knocked over the rail on his debut at Salisbury, losing lots of ground at the start. The way he recovered to buckle down and finish fourth was commendable and he should know a lot more next time out.
