One of the UK’s high horse racing tipsters names his greatest bets after impressed Derby choice
Maltese Cross, who was advised in this column as an ante-post punt a few weeks ago, ran a blinder in the Derby to be second to Christmas Day at 12-1.
His chance had been virtually written off by trainer William Haggas in the days before the race due to the soft ground. But he still performed with huge credit and if he gets faster ground on his next start – either in the Irish Derby at the end of the month or the Grand Prix De Paris – he will take a lot of beating.
Ciao Capo (11-10) was a very easy winner for the column last week. He is a horse well ahead of the handicapper and should be followed over 1m2f on fast ground. And King’s Cavalry – advised two weeks ago as a Future Winner – was another who won comfortably at Doncaster. He won over seven furlongs but might be suited by a step back to a stiff six furlongs.
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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 week, 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
THIS WEEK
AMAZING JOURNEY is worth a very close look at Kempton on Wednesday evening. Jamie Osborne’s gelding showed loads of promise as a juvenile and was unlucky in valuable races at Glorious Goodwood and the Ebor meeting when hampered both times.
He posted a very decent effort on his three-year-old debut at Leicester where he bumped into a real improver in Jazl. Amazing Journey has a useful draw in the Unibet 40,000 Live Streamed Events Handicap at 7.40 and I fancy him to resume winning ways.
JANNAS JOURNEY won an amazing seven races in 2025 for trainer Jim Goldie. Her improvement saw her rating rise from 47 to 77 until the handicapper finally caught up.
The assessor has loosened its grip and Jannas Journey is back down to that last winning mark of 77 and she ran her best race for some time at Carlisle recently.
She is entered in the apprentice race that kicks off the York card on Friday and should be noted, especially if there is some ease in the ground. She does go particularly well for Danny Tudhope and I look forward to him getting back on her soon.
CARAGIO is an interesting runner if he takes up his entry at Doncaster on Sunday. He bolted up at Yarmouth before failing to replicate the form on the all weather.
Back on turf and with a nice break under his belt, he could return to winning ways given the fast ground that the son of Caravaggio prefers. He is very well handicapped.
ANTE POST FOCUS
INDALO has attracted solid support for the Royal Hunt Cup and is as low as 8-1 in some books already. It is easy to see why. Roger Varian landed a huge gamble when My Cloud won the race 12 months ago and he has made no secret of the fact he is targeting the race again with this unexposed five-year-old who was chinned by a nose in the Cambridgeshire in October.
However, DIEGO VENTURA also appeals in the Hunt Cup at his current best price of 16-1. Wathnan Racing have a load of entries but this fellow is in great heart as he showed with a tenacious victory at Hamilton and he has a touch of class.
FUTURE WINNERS
LARAVIE: This mare is on a roll with three straight wins on the Flat and there could be more to come in races over two miles-plus. She stays three miles over hurdles.
NOSTRUM: Once touted as a Classic contender when with Sir Michael Stoute, Nostrum badly lost his way. However, he may be about to revive his career with Mick Appleby. His recent second at Sandown was a fine effort and Nostrum is a well handicapped horse.
*Prices correct at the time of writing.
