I’m the UK’s best tipster – here are my top six picks this week | Racing | Sport

Melissa, aka The Scout, is the current Racing Post National Press Challenge champion after she led the field of 11 tipsters to the finish in 2025. The stamina-sapping competition was based on more than 9,600 selections throughout the year. A good final furlong helped her cause, but Melissa has maintained her form – and set a new record by finishing top of the standings for a fourth month on the trot in February before tipping this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Gaelic Warrior.

Six selections this week starting with PORTH EILIAN (4.35) in Wednesday’s Fixing Point Cladding Fasteners Handicap at Hamilton Park.

Ed Bethell’s trainee has opened up at 15-8 for this 1m ½f contest, which is competitive despite only three runners going to post.

My first selection hails from a family his handler knows well, being a half-sister to Listed scorer Point Lynas in the silks of Julie and David Martin.

Two other half-siblings have also struck at a mile and the stable like to deliver the goods with a handicap debutant, so Porth Eilian could make some nice progress here.

I feel Lady Kara is potentially vulnerable carrying a 7lb penalty in Newton Abbot’s Stock Exe Building Supplies Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle.

She gives away 13lb to the four-year-olds, with Anthony Honeyball responsible for two of them in the ten-runner field.

Lady Litigator, whose dam is a half-sister to the stable’s former hardy veteran Regal Encore, has ability but she has twice run green in front and I wonder how streetwise she will be tackling obstacles for the first time.

Therefore, preference is for her stablemate FRENATI (2.53), who raced with her ears pricked for much of a junior flat race at Newton Abbot last month.

She injected some pace on the bend and kept on willingly for pressure, rallying against the winner Seedling, a nice horse for the future along with the third Guste’s Dance.

I like that Frenati returns to the same track to start out over jumps and the presence of Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle is a positive sign.

On Thursday, SUNRAY SHADOW (2.55) is back in action in the PJ Nicholls KGM Korea Genuinely Made Handicap Chase.

Dan Skelton gave his charge a couple of winter runs, but it is no surprise the winner of a good ground bumper and maiden hurdle is faring better now.

I feel Tristan Durrell would have come away from this horse’s penultimate run wanting another go at it, as his body language suggested he had the home straight leader and eventual winner Idefix De Ciergues covered.

Sunray Shadow had plenty to spare next time out and this half-brother to Whisperinthebreeze, who took a good quality chase at Leopardstown from a mark of 130, now tries the bigger obstacles.

Ombudsman headlines Sandown’s evening card in the Group Three Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes and he is the race’s class act.

The Listed Star Sports National Stakes has several interesting contenders, with unbeaten pair Adaay Of Scarlett and Where Love Lives among them.

However, the Amo Racing juvenile NAPA (5.42) is drawn to attack from stall two, after his Newmarket form was boosted by ownermate Noble Raider (third), Persian Spring (fifth) and Agamemnon (sixth).

BERRY CLEVER (2.48) had plenty go wrong for him at Yarmouth eight days ago and still managed to finish first under Silvestre De Sousa.

He was sat upright as the other jockeys were rowing away and switched his mount on several occasions throughout the seven furlongs, which upgrades the performance in my eyes.

Berry Clever picked up well considering how keen he was early, and after previously encountering handicap blot Beagle Bay, is backed to follow up with his 5lb penalty cancelled out by Liam Wright’s claim.

Brighton reopens on Friday, a circuit which is trainer John Gallagher’s clear best, with 54 winners from 379 runners and many more not too far away.

I notice he has given three-time winner there HAVANA MOJITO (3.52) two options, but the Watch Live Racing On fairplaybet.co.uk Handicap seems to be the target with Luke Morris jocked up.

One of only three entries to have won over course and distance, the miler has had a couple of runs to put him spot on and is weighted to return to winning ways.

Lilt (13-2)
Ashen (5-4f)
Gaelic Warrior (5-6f)
Protection Act (11-2)
Saber Strike (11-2)
Crystal Island (evs f)
Caragio (3-1)
Cape Ashizuri (100-30)
Storm Point (4-1)
Each-way bets
Maxi King (25-1, second)