This week in his regular column, Daily Star Chief Tipster Jason Heavey marks your card with some horses to watch during Royal Ascot, which starts on Tuesday. Jason is one of the country’s leading newspaper tipsters.
In 2023, he achieved the rare double of winning both national tipping titles – the Racing Post Press Challenge and the coveted Racing Post Naps Table. He is currently the leading “red-top” tipster in the country in the National Press Challenge table.
Amid the pomp and ceremony, sea of silly hats and expensive togs, Royal Ascot is – by some distance – the best five days of Flat racing of the year. The racecourse tends to get most things right and it is a wonderful venue – whether you go to the royal meeting itself, King George day in late July or any of its setpiece meetings through the year.
It is not easy to find winners at Royal Ascot because, just like the Cheltenham Festival, the best of the best take each other on. But let’s focus on a few four-legged thoroughbreds who could make you a few quid this week. Here are five that I fancy…
Tuesday: AMERICAN AFFAIR (King Charles III Stakes)
American Affair won the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last year. This speed freak gave Scottish trainer Jim Goldie his biggest success in this very race 12 months ago. And I think he can do it again. American Affair did not run again last year following his royal success but has returned in good fettle this term and has two runs under his belt.
His latest effort – a good second to the reopposing Night Raider – showed that the fire was still burning. That performance can also be marked up as he found himself much closer to the pace than he is used to and he stayed on well. He is drawn next to Aussie speedster Overpass and should get a lovely tow into the race under Paul Mulrennan, who knows the horse inside out. So expect him to arrive late on the scene. The race will take some winning but I actually think his current price of 8-1 is too big.
Tuesday: NIGHT IN VEGAS (Coventry Stakes)
In the past few years this race for juveniles has become much harder to win. The field sizes have grown and this year is no different – it is incredibly competitive. The race – named after the 8th Earl Of Coventry rather than the cathedral city in the West Midlands – has been won 11 times by the mighty Aidan O’Brien, including with Gstaad last year – who could become the star of Tuesday’s show in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
O’Brien is represented by Confucius and Great Barrier Reef who are, predictably, at the head of the market. But I really like Night In Vegas. Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, he made a big impression with the style of his debut victory over the course and distance of this race. He followed up by winning again at Goodwood – fairly easily. I have backed him ante-post at 14-1 and he is around 10-1 at the time of writing. This race is so deep that he could run a blinder and finish seventh or eighth, but with a bit of luck in running Night In Vegas may just hit the jackpot.
Wednesday: STATEIRA (Kensington Palace Handicap)
This filly was snapped up by moneybags owners Wathnan Racing after an excellent third on her latest run at the Curragh. That was a Group Two race and she was very unlucky in running under Oisin Murphy. She could have aimed higher and tackled a pattern race this week but has been put back into handicap company – and runs off a rating of 105 in the Kensington Palace, another devilishly difficult puzzle to solve. Stateira is around the 7-1 mark and may just be in a different league to her rivals.
Thursday: TRAWLERMAN (Ascot Gold Cup)
The staying king is not ready to give up his throne just yet. He won the highlight of the week by seven lengths a year ago and was absolutely bombproof. Trawlerman will find it tougher this year as he has not had a prep run and his stable has been out of form. However, this race is all about stamina and the new kids on the block – Scandinavia and Rahiebb – are unproven over 2m4f. Both could well stay the distance but I prefer to stick with a horse who you know will relish every yard and who will be fighting his heart out to repel every challenger. Trawlerman is around 7-2 – I don’t think he will be that big by race day. Fill yer boots.
Friday: OPPORTUNITY (Duke of Edinburgh Handicap)
This unexposed four-year-old had other options but William Haggas has gone for the most obvious. A one-time Derby hope last season, he returned after a layoff to run a lovely race over the track and trip he will face this week. He then cruised home with loads in hand at Carlisle and is now 8lb higher in the weights. This can be a rough race and you need clear water in the home straight but if the cards fall his way then it will take a good one to beat him.
