The Student Punter

  17:20 Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase A lot of my week revolves around the running of MIDNIGHT OUR FRED  in the Kim Muir. I’ve had him in mind for this for a while and was delighted to see the UK handicapper only nudge him up 1lb. He bolted up at Gowran Park in October then followed that up with a huge run at Leopardstown over Christmas when 2nd to Perceval Legallois (one I like for the Grand national). That Leopardstown run is worthy of an upgrade as he disputed the lead throughout with Three Card Brag and while that rival folded to be beaten over lengths in 7th, Fred kept on well to finish an excellent 2nd. Three Card Brag went on to win next time at Navan, while another prominent racer from Leopardstown, Nick Rockett (4th) won the Thyestes on his next start and followed up at Fairyhouse in a Grade 3 next time out. There’s also the fact he has form round Cheltenham, running an excellent 2nd of 19 in October 2023 and then running 2nd again over 3m4f h...

  14:40 - Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle 2m4f Dan Skelton is always one to keep a close eye on in these festival handicap hurdles and he looks to have teed up another great chance in BE AWARE . It’s not rocket science picking him out and even though he’s close to the top of the market I still make him a bet with the extra places available. He was 2nd to Burdett Road in at the Greatwood off 130 and given that rival is now rated 17lb higher (potentially more after his fortunate Champion Hurdle second on day one) he has to have a huge chance off 137 here. You can put a line through his effort last time out and he has obviously been saved for this. SANDOR CLEGANE  was one of the Irish runner fortunate enough to get away without the usual handicapper ‘tax’ for crossing the Irish Sea and I think he could be up to taking advantage of that. It would probably be unfair to say his chasing career was a complete failure, because he was mixing it in some tough races (including a 4th behind Fact...

  The best week in the racing calendar is here again and for all it’s a cracking day’s racing, these probably won’t be my strongest bets of the week. The 4-fold of Kopek Des Bordes , Majborough , Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill will be very popular with punters (pays 7/1+). But as usual most of my selections will be in the big handicaps on the card. Best of luck with your bets for day one. 13:20 - Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m 1/2f I was lucky enough to be at the Dublin Racing Festival last month to see Kopek Des Bordes  absolutely demolish his opposition. I’m sitting on an ante-post position on him so it’s unlikely I’ll go in again (although the evens as I type is getting tempting). The worry for him would be if he handles the occasion, he was in and out of the parade ring very quickly at Leopardstown (presumably in an attempt to keep a lid on him) but he still won despite racing freely.  Workahead ’s win at at Leopardstown over Christmas was franked when the seven leng...

  14:15 York A 19-race losing run may not seem the most appealing profile but with plenty of extra places available,  CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD  looks the value here each way. Jack Channon's charge is remarkably consistent in races of this nature and is fairly versatile ground-wise (but wouldn't want either extreme of the going stick). He has run a couple of solid races in defeat so far this season, including last time out at Newmarket where he fared best of those held up after missing the kick. Despite continuing to run well he now finds himself on a mark of 87,  he was placed multiple times off higher marks last season and his last winning mark was 91 (albeit a few years ago). It remains to be seen whether York is a track where he will be seen to best effect, but he has run here twice - finishing 2nd beaten a short head in a competitive course and distance handicap on one occasion and unplaced when finishing lame on the other. 10/1 with 6 places available is a bet in my b...

  13:30 Lingfield One I like here is SIEMPRE ARTURO for the Kubler team, whose form has a solid look to it. He ran well trying to give 29lb to a horse called Alrazeen on his penultimate start and was only beaten a length, that rival has since run creditably off a mark of 78. So it was no surprise to see Siempre Arturo sent off a 2/1 favourite off a mark of 70 last time out, he justified those short odds with a cosy victory.  That race has worked out well since with the 3rd and 4th both winning subsequently, so he could well prove ahead of this mark of 74. PARTY ISLAND caught the eye running on late over an inadequate trip last time out and I think he’s been aimed at this race for a while. He is a three-time course and distance winner, bolting up here in July 2022 by 5 lengths off 1lb lower than his mark today. George Bass gets on very well with this horse having been on board for 5 of his 7 career wins, which is always a positive in these apprentice races. SIEMPRE ARTURO 10/...

  15:35 Doncaster After a profitable run in the Dandinaps Tipping competition last year, I'm going to aim to publish a write up for the big weekend handicaps throughout the season. We kick things off with the Lincoln at Doncaster, last year followers were on the 18/1 winner Migration  and given his record on seasonal appearance he could be worth having on side again, but he's not my main fancy. SPIRIT GENIE  looks like a good each-way option instead, taking advantage of the six places widely available. I'm happy to put a line through his disappointing run at Wolverhampton last time, given that he has never run to form on an artificial surface. I'd rather judge him on his strong finishing second on the Rowley mile the time before, faring best of those ridden patiently. That was a career-best RPR and suspect there is still more to come from him and he can prove better than a mark of 86. Especially given that he is a full brother to Emmaus, a Group 2 placed and listed winn...

  14:10 - County Hurdle The Skeltons have had an incredible week so far and their record in this race in recent years means you have to respect L'Eau Du Sud and I will likely cover him to small stakes if his price drifts a bit. Their second string  FAIVOIR  won this last year and is only 2lb higher (4lb well in) despite running well recently. He looked unfortunate not to win the Imperial Cup at Sandown and on a line through Go Dante he ties in closely with the favourite. I think anything 10/1 or bigger is a bet so the 12/1 at the time of writing should be taken with 6 places on offer. One at a massive price who I like to run into the additional places is MR FREEDOM  at 40/1. There's no hiding the fact he certainly lacks the class of those at the top end of the market but he is just the type to be suited buy these big field handicaps. He showed that last year when finishing 5th in the Fred Winter despite his rider losing his irons after the saddle slipped jumping the ...