In his weekly column, the Daily Star’s Chief Tipster Jason Heavey marks your card with the horses to watch this 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
ANTE POST FOCUS
If the big guns stand their ground, Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot is gearing up to be a crackerjack of a race.
The last two winners – Calandagan (2025) and Goliath (2024) – are heading over from Francis Graffard’s winner factory in France to take on Benvenuto Cellini, winner of the Irish Derby and probably the current pick of the Classic generation.
Throw in last year’s runner-up Kalpana, two Japanese raiders including the strongly fancied Masquerade Ball, and 2025 Oaks winner Minnie Hauk and the race has a truly international feel.
And it’s the latter filly, MINNIE HAUK, who appeals at the prices at the time of writing. She is best priced 7-1 and that offers a bit of value against those ahead of her in the betting.
Aidan O’Brien’s second string has been campaigned over 1m2f this season and last time out she was far from disgraced by chasing home the brilliant Ombudsman in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. But there is no doubt that Saturday’s 1m4f trip is her optimum. She was second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last autumn to Daryz after winning three Group One races over the trip.
There are 10 horses entered – Bay City Roller is unlikely to run – so I hope we get the dead eight runners that will make her a good each-way punt.
THIS WEEK
HAMDANI MOKHATER (2.37 Catterick, Wednesday) found one too good at Leicester last week and is fancied to go one better at Catterick on Wednesday. James Horton sends him on the trek north and the horse looks on a decent handicap mark.
ROMIDIJO (7.10 Lingfield) has the standout form in the nursery at Lingfield. He has not been finishing off his races over six furlongs so the step back to five furlongs should have the trick. The brilliant Billy Loughnane gets the leg-up.
Also at Lingfield on Wednesday, HILLTOP (8.10 Lingfield) is a strong fancy and has a very good draw.
There is a good word for EVENFALL (5.04) who makes his racecourse debut at Yarmouth on Thursday from the George Boughey yard while ALBERTINI STAR (4.42) could upset a couple of dual winners at Sandown. She got going too late to trouble runaway winner Empirical at Nottingham but stayed on well and the longer trip will suit.
The aforementioned EMPIRICAL has a few entries on Friday and Saturday and should not be missed as he remains well handicapped.
And looking ahead to the weekend, keep an eye out for DONTLOOKBACKINANGA (1.10 Ascot) if he takes up his entry at Ascot. He showed plenty of debut promise at Sandown.
FUTURE WINNERS
PHANTOM SHADOW: Bolted up at Ayr on Monday and looks miles ahead of the handicapper.
BRAGBOR: Caught the eye at York recently at a big price. One to note next time.