In his weekly Gold Star column, Daily Star Sport’s chief tipster Jason Heavey marks your card with some horses to watch during the coming week – and beyond
In his regular 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 week, he will bring you the ‘Ante-post Focus’ – a look at some of the big races to come. ‘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.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
OPPORTUNITY was a runaway winner at Royal Ascot for this column in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap.
James Doyle jumped off him 24 hours before the race to ride the better fancied Hopewell Rock. But James McDonald was a more than able deputy to steer William Haggas’s well handicapped beast to victory at an SP of 6-1. His handicapping days are probably over as the assessor has whacked him up 10lb to an official BHA rating of 110.
Royal Ascot was fairly brutal for punters with the draw bias having a huge say in the first few days. I tipped four winners on the Friday but the rest of the week was pretty underwhelming.
Last week JANNAS JOURNEY – a horse we have previously flagged – finally came good with a smooth success at Carlisle at 10-3 and she is one to keep on side.
This week
The July Meeting at Newmarket starts on Thursday and I’m disappointed NIGHT IN VEGAS doesn’t run in the Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes. Watch out for where he runs next. However, THUNDER CALL appeals in the Betway Handicap. He is progressive and won with a bit in a hand at York recently.
ROMIDIJO is no world beater but he is capable of winning a race or two. He runs at Chepstow on Wednesday in a nursery and off a rating of 65 he should go very close. His Epsom form from the Woodcote Stakes is the strongest in the race.
CATALYSE is worth a look at Carlisle on Thursday. He has plunged in the weights – he is 26lb lower than 12 months ago – and had some decent form last season. Jim Goldie now has him and he will win at some point.
STORM POINT is a nice prospect who did this column a good turn recently when winning at Newbury. He returns to the track on Thursday evening and will be hard to beat although NAKAAHA – another horse we have tipped up and who won well eight days ago – is a formidable rival.
THREE NON BLONDES ran a blinder on her first start for trainer Hayley Burton when a solid third and could go two better if she takes up her entry at Newmarket on Friday.
Ante post focus
The John Smith’s Cup at York on Saturday is a great betting race and I’ve taken the 8-1 that was available for DANGER BAY.
A smooth winner of the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar, Ed Bethell has targeted this contest and the track at the Knavesmire should suit him. Bethell has pattern race aspirations for this promising four-year-old.
Future winners
FLYING MOONLIGHT: Posted two decent efforts for Sandy Thomson on the Flat and looks sure to win a race.
NEWTOWN RAMBLER: Won three times on the trot over fences and I think he can go in again as the handicapper has only put him up another 4lb.
FLYING FRONTIER: Stayed on well at Sandown last weekend and should go very close next time.