The Daily Star’s tipster believes Billy Loughnane can grab the glory in the first Classic of the season at Newmarket while he predicts history can repeat itself in the Thirsk Hunt Cup
BOW ECHO (3.35) can provide trainer George Boughey with his biggest career success in the Betfred 2,000 Guineas
The unbeaten son of Night Of Thunder enjoyed a peerless juvenile campaign with a perfect three from three successes.
He proved his ability to handle Newmarket and to stay a mile with victory in the Royal Lodge Stakes in September.
Boughey has been delighted with the horse’s preparation and the vibes are strong despite Bow Echo’s lack of a run.
The ride of wonder boy Billy Loughnane is vying for favouritism with Aidan O’Brien’s sole representative Gstaad.
The latter ended a stellar two-year-old campaign with victory at the Breeders’ Cup and is a formidable threat.
The pace could come from Oxagon and Alparslan who both won their prep races by making the running. Oxagon at 11-1 is fair each-way value.
Oisin Murphy is likely to go forward from stall 10 and Oxagon was not stopping when running his Craven Stakes rivals ragged.
Alparslan won the Greenham at Newbury from the front and Karl Burke has decided to roll the dice as it is such a wide-open renewal.
He is unexposed and a bit overpriced at 20-1 but he looked slightly uncomfortable on the track in the Dewhurst.
As ever, Godolphin hold a strong hand. William Buick has chosen Distant Storm who was third in the Dewhurst to the ill-fated Gewan and has been the subject of positive work reports.
He has been attracting plenty of support along with Charlie Appleby stablemate King’s Trail who is unbeaten in two all-weather starts and has trodden a similar path to the yard’s 2024 winner Notable Speech.
At bigger rices Jim Boyle’s Into The Sky was a spectacular debut winner at Newbury before posting a fine second in the Horris Hill Stakes.
He is an unknown quantity at 28-1 while Thescretadversary has a solid CV and rates a place play at 25-1.
BULLET POINT (2.20, trb) can take aim at his rivals at Newmarket.
Wiliam Haggas’ admirable five-year-old improved massively last season, winning twice and being chinned in a valuable Ascot handicap.
He was sent to Australia for a £570,000 race where he blew his chance at the start.
Bullet Point will be back in his comfort zone of the Rowley Mile where he has a perfect two from two record in the Betfred Suffolk Stakes.
Top weight will not worry him and he bolted up first time out at the course last season.
The speedy NIGHT RAIDER (2.55, nb) can resume winning ways in the HKJC World Pool Palace House Stakes.
The five-year-old is one of the fastest horses in training but failed to get his head in front during 2025.
It is hoped a gelding operation may help him settle and he has reportedly been working well.
DOUBLE RUSH (1.45) is most people’s idea as the best bet of the day in the Betfred Handicap.
He dotted up 17 days ago at the track and is 8lb “well in” today off 95 as his rating is due to go up to 103.
The ITV cameras are at Thirsk and Goodwood and in North Yorkshire FLIGHT PLAN (2.40) is fancied to repeat his victory of 12 months ago in the Sky Bet Thirsk Hunt Cup.
Last year he bounced out and made all the running under Sam James and the same rider gets the leg-up again. They have a great inside draw to be able to go forward and dictate the pace.
At Goodwood Tim Easterby sends his speedy filly ARGENTINE TANGO (1.30) down to Goodwood for the Fitzdares Chelmer Fillies Stakes.
She is tough and consistent and will be fitter for a good third in a Chantilly Group Three 18 days ago. She looks a decent punt at about 8-1.
ARISAIG (2.05) goes well at Goodwill and gets the vote at a big looking 7-1 in the Fitzdares Conqueror Fillies Stakes.
She was a solid second at Newmarket recently and her fitness edge may prove decisive against Blue Bolt and She’s Perfect.
JASON HEAVEY’S RACING TIPS
NEWMARKET
1.10 Sayidah Dariyan
1.45 Double Rush
2.20 Bullet Point (trb)
2.55 Night Raider (nb)
3.35 Bow Echo
4.10 Sovereign Spell
4.45 Gamrai
5.20 Stellar Vision
5.55 Twisting Physics
GOODWOOD
12.55 Crimson Sunset
1.30 Argentine Tango
2.05 Arisaig
2.45 St Mawes
3.20 The Thames Boatman
4.00 Circus Of Rome
4.30 Midnight Rodeo
5.05 Startled (Nap)
THIRSK
1.35 Tamam Star
2.10 Distant Shore
2.40 Flight Plan
3.15 Shipshape
3.55 Mister Sox
4.25 Squealer
5.00 Sunny Orange
UTTOXETER
12.45 Playful Fox
1.20 Trigg
1.55 Tap Tap Shamie
2.35 Joyeux Machin
3.10 Tom Desjy
3.50 Sir Galahad
4.20 Good Boy Griff
4.50 Ukantango
HEXHAM
4.40 Demoiselle Kap
5.15 Mickthesoldier
5.45 Blue Skies Ahead
6.15 Crackerjacque
6.45 Filibustering
7.15 Royal Deeside
7.45 Kicksaftersix
8.15 My Boy Christy
DONCASTER
4.35 Thunderhoof
5.10 My Ballyquinn
5.50 Mohaymenah
6.27 Akkadian Thunder
7.02 Sixpack
7.32 Tekitoff
8.02 Valentine Catcher