The Daily Star Chief Tipster believes a British raider could be overpriced at Punchestown while a son of Frankel can show his staying prowess at Ascot
NORN IRON (5.25) can show his mettle on day four of the Punchestown Festival.
Harry Derham sends the eight-year-old into battle in the Quinnbet Novice Handicap Chase – a Listed event with 22 runners.
The eight-year-old has had four runs over fences and won his last two comfortably, both at Sandown. That suggests the right-had course in Ireland should suit him and there looks to be plenty of improvement in his locker.
At 16-1 he looks a very fair price. Derham and jockey Paul O’Brien have claims of a double with SPIROU (7.10) in the FRS Fencing Handicap Hurdle.
He surprised his trainer when winning on his British debut and should be even sharper for this competitive looking handicap.
LOSSIEMOUTH (6.40) should make short work of her rivals in the Boodles Champion Hurdle. She was brilliant at Cheltenham when taking the Champion Hurdle and Willie Mullins’ grey machine is also unbeaten at the Punchestown Festival (2023 and 2024).
Golden Ace looks the main threat on ground she will enjoy while William Munny sees a racecourse for the first time since chasing home Kopek Des Bordes in the 2025 Supreme.
It could be another profitable day for Mullins (above) who saddles DINOBLUE (4.50) in the Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares Chase. The nine-year-old won this Grade Two contest 12 months ago and is in the form of her life, as she showed when a cosy winner of the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham.
She will not be much of a price – and neither will another Cheltenham scorer KING RASKO GREY (6.00). He was professional in winning the Turners and can win the Grade One Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle.
ITSONTHELINE (4.15) was a gallant second in the Cheltenham Foxhunters before running flat at Aintree.
He can win the Uniquely Champion Hunters Chase for the fourth straight year.
TARRIANCE (2.35) can put a marker down as a real stayer of the future at Ascot today.
The four-year-old progressed nicely last year, winning three times including the coveted Melrose Handicap at the York Ebor meeting.
Stamina won him the day then and he produced a terrific performance for such an inexperienced horse when a close third in the £1m Red Sea Turf Handicap at Riyadh.
Colin Keane gets the leg-up on Andrew Balding’s son of Frankel and at 6-1 he appeals as an alternative to the favourite Sweet William in the Group Three Longines Sagaro Stakes.
The ITV cameras are at three UK meetings today and the other live race in Berkshire on Royal Ascot Trials Day is the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes.
BRUSSELS (3.10) gets the nod for Aidan O’Brien. A tough and consistent juvenile, he was second four times last season including in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
The Ballydoyle three-year-olds have generally been needing a race but Brussels did win first time out as a two-year-old.
The Guineas meeting kicks off at Newmarket with four live ITV races and POSIEDON’S WARRIOR (2.20) is a confident choice to build on a promising run at the Craven meeting in the JCB Newmarket Stakes.
George Boughey has one of the Royal Ascot handicaps in his sights for OBJECTOR (2.55), who gets the vote in the Betfred ‘The Classic Bookmaker’ Handicap and at 16-1 he is well worth an each-way interest.
LION’S PRIDE (3.30, nb) produced a career best on the track in September with a seven-length demolition in the Godolphin Stakes. He has been campaigned ambitiously since and is tipped to take the Group Two Betfred Jockey Club Stakes.
He’ll strip fitter for his fourth to Convergent at Newbury and the Gosden yard is in tip-top form.
ELARAK (4.05) will also benefit from a recent run and is tipped in the Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap.
He is a progressive sort and looks a cut above his rivals.
Down at Goodwood, KISSMEHONEYHONEY (3.50) is worth a roll of the dice in the British Stallion Studs EBF Daisy Warwick Fillies’ Stakes.
She won her only start as a three-year old and is the type who should do better as she matures.
JASON HEAVEY’S RACING TIPS
PUNCHESTOWN
3.40 Hearts And Spades
4.15 Its On The Line
4.50 Dinoblue
5.25 Norn Iron
6.00 King Rasko Grey
6.40 Lossiemouth
7.10 Spirou
7.40 Ladbroke Grove
NEWCASTLE
4.45 Fallacious Promise
5.20 Mao Shang Wong
5.53 New York Minute
6.30 Eklleem
7.02 Starmade
7.33 Recency Bias
8.10 Caragio (Nap)
WARWICK
4.30 Great Valley
5.05 Practice Run
5.40 Mister Coffey
6.15 Crawter
6.50 Walk Of No Shame
7.25 My Gift To You
8.00 Unexpected Party
ASCOT
2.00 Adaay of Scarlett
2.35 Tarriance
3.10 Brussels
3.45 Seacruiser
4.20 Pixie Diva
4.55 So Regal
5.30 Angel Hunter
NEWMARKET
1.45 Earth Shot
2.20 Poseidon’s Warrior
2.55 Objector
3.30 Lion’s Pride (nb)
4.05 Elarak
4.40 Cerro Blanco
5.15 Paradise Walk
GOODWOOD
2.05 Harry Knows
2.40 Protection Act
3.15 Clearpoint (trb)
3.50 Kissmehoneyhoney
4.25 Uncle Don
5.00 Lux Aeterna
5.35 Gallivanted