Daily Star Chief Tipster Jason Heavey marks your card for the weekend racing and beyond in his regular column which has been picking up wins of late.
Last week he tipped HIGHWAYMAN at 11-1 who won the St Leger. 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. And he’s currently the leading ‘red-top’ tipster in the country in the National Press Challenge table.
We’re on a bit of a roll. Two weeks ago ALMERAQ won the big Saturday race at Haydock for this column at 10-3 and then last weekend HIGHWAYMAN scooted home in the St Leger at a tasty 11-1 under Saffie Osborne. In doing so, she became the first female to ride a British Classic winner in a watershed moment for the sport.
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So we’re on the hat-trick. But finding Saturday’s big race winner this week is a bit tougher as the Ayr Gold Cup will see 25 runners thundering down the straight six furlongs at the Scottish track.
I am hoping FAR ABOVE DREAM (3.40) fits the bill for the canny trainer James Owen and at around 8-1 he is among the more fancied horses in a smashing betting race.
The four-year-old has done little wrong this season and came within a nose of winning a valuable sprint handicap at the Ebor meeting.
The earlier Silver Cup should offer some clues about the draw and the best place to be but Far Above Dream is berthed near Twilight Calls – and that woman Saffie – and they should both figure in the finish.
In the Silver Cup, ETERNAL SUNSHINE (2.30) gets the vote for local trainer Jim Goldie.
Three of her nine career wins have come at Ayr and she has been in decent enough form – at 20-1 she is a fair each-way play in what is a real puzzle.
Away from those ming boggling betting conundrums, FAST TRACKER (1.55) is a safer bet at 5-1 in the Ladbrokes “Get Racing Bet Builder Winnings Boost” Doonside Cup.
A four-time winner in France on testing ground, Ed Walker’s gelding was an excellent third to Zavateri at Goodwood and the extra two furlongs will suit.
ETONNANTE (3.05) has size and scope and is a favourite of trainer Karl Burke and she went through bad ground well to score at Haydock.
She appeals at a big looking 8-1 in the Group Three Firth of Clyde Stakes where the market is made by Silent Beauty and Dark Issue.
LATTAM (1.20) has not run for 414 days but I’m throwing a speculative dart at him in Ayr’s opener at a silly price (22-1).
In the last race at Ayr – when the ITV cameras have stopped rolling – JANNAS JOURNEY (4.50, nap) is a mare who will like the conditions and she is a strong fancy.
ALMEKAREM (2.47, nb) is my strongest fancy at Newbury in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap.
Luke Morris rode a canny race to win on this progressive four-year-old at Doncaster last week and similar tactics could pay off.
ARAPAHO GOLD (2.12) is hard to oppose in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes – he is four from four and can concede weight all round – while REDORANGE (1.02) will be suited by the fast ground and the track in the Dubai International Airport World Trophy.
TEMPLE OF ATHENA (4.17, trb) will carry my each-way pennies at Chester. She likes the track, will handle the soft conditions and has a nice draw.
FUTURE WINNERS
THE RESDEV ROMAN: I’ve been waiting for this one to run – she goes at Hamilton on Sunday and I’ll be disappointed if she doesn’t win.
MATTER OF BRITAIN: Also goes at Hamilton on Sunday in the 4.00. Dotted up there recently and could be well handicapped.
ATLAS MOUNTAIN: Is entered at Leicester on Monday. He did not stay the trip last time and is interesting back at a mile.