The Student Punter

It was great to end July with a 7/1 winner, this blog has only been set up for half the month but I am going to put a quick summary of July's selections below, happy to say it was pretty profitable! JULY P/L:  +20.95 points  ROI:  55.9% Highlight of the month was the 14/1 winner Aimez La Vie, with a couple of other nice priced winners. There was also a few hard luck stories as there always is but can't moan with 20.95 points profit in the space of a couple of weeks. Hopefully we can start August the same way we ended July, winning! 13:50 Goodwood - OASIS FANTASY 12/1 1 Point Each-Way Paddy Power are paying 5 places in this so worth getting on with them. Oasis Fantasy looks an interesting contender here, he comes into the race 5lb lower in the weights than last year when he finished second by a neck behind fire fighting. His last couple of starts haven't been great but prior to those he finished third in a decent handicap at York ...

The double yesterday was no good at all and probably a case of forcing a bet, but stakes were kept small so we live and learn. As for the other pick, Giant Spark, we were unlucky and got no run for our money as he stumbled early in the race causing the saddle to slip Luke Morris to lose his stirrups, he was eased down before half way. Now to the final day of July, last chance to make a few more pennies before I look back on the months profit and loss (or half month). Glorious Goodwood starts this week too, which I have had a look at a bit already and have some horses in mind for the week. 15:30 Ayr - ROCKWOOD 16/1 0.5 Points Each-Way This is a contest where it looks worth taking one at a bigger price, given that the current favourite hasn't won for over a year and others near the top of the market are taking a step up in class. Rockwood is down to his last winning mark, which he won off just two months ago. He can be forgiven his last few runs as they came over 1m2f and he ...

After such a good day Friday, Saturday was a bit disappointing - especially given how well backed all four runners were. Muntadab was backed in from 16s to 11/2 fav, but ran a disappointing race and finished down the field. Next was Makzeem who was backed in from 8s to 11/2 fav but could only manage sixth, at least rewarding us with some place money. The biggest disappointment of the day though, was Horroob. He was backed from 9/2 all the way into 15/8 fav and was travelling much the best a furlong out, but unfortunately David Egan seemed to expect the leader to come back to him and he never did, perhaps guilty of an over-confident ride. It was also annoying to see the other selection backed in from 13/2 to 9/4 fav and then pulled out half an hour before the race. Even though it wasn't a great day on the punting front, it was great to see Enable romp home in the king George at Ascot and cement her claims as the likeliest winner of the Arc. However, quotes of 9/4 ante-post seem sk...

Great to bounce back to winning ways with winners at 12/1 and 8/1, something worth shouting about at last. It puts the blog well in profit and hopefully my first Saturday selections can put us in even more. Some great races for punters to look forward on Saturday but I plan on sitting back and watching the feature at Ascot without any financial involvement, hoping Enable is as good as she's looked so far. 14:40 York - MUNTADAB 16/1 1 Point Each-Way This race looks a good betting medium here, while George Bowen still looks well handicapped and should take some beating, theres a nice shape for each way angles into the race. The one I like is Muntadab, he has looked well held in the last twice but the return to ground with some give should help him to return to form. His recent below par runs mean he's now back to the same mark off which he finished second beaten a neck by Al Qahwa over course and distance on soft ground. I have backed this at Paddy Power as they are payin...

Very much a day to forget for the blog yesterday, but more so for the trainer of the 3 point bet Zumran. Charlie Mcbride was involved in an  absolute farce at Yarmouth where the winner of the 2 year old race at 50/1, Mandarin Princess, was later found out to be her three year old stable mate Millie's Kiss. I sincerely hope that punters who lost out due to this error can resolve any issues, although in fairness plenty of bookmakers have decided to pay out on both the first and second as a goodwill gesture. As for our bet, Zumran, he was a late drifter and already looked beat two furlongs out. Annoyingly one I left out yesterday, but tweeted about -May Girl went and won at 7/1. Bit of a lesson there to take a chance on unproven ground, even if it means lowering stakes or ensuring you get a big enough price. Not been a great start to the week but hopefully we can turn things around with Friday's bets. 16:05 Thirsk - ORIENTAL LILLY 2/1 2 Points Win Oriental Lilly ran a gre...

A shame to end on a loss yesterday. Picket Line ran a fine race to place at a nice SP of 16/1 but the drift on Sure To Explore was a telling one who was pushed along a long way out and never figured. Hoping to bounce back with the first 3 pointer I've put up on the blog yet. Newbury 20:05 - ZUMRAN 9/4 3 Points Win Zumran beat a horse put up on this blog on Friday last week, Fantasy Keeper. After that win I said she looked a horse very much to keep on the right side of and that very much remains the case under a 6lb penalty today. Softer ground looks the key to recent successes, which she is highly likely to encounter again tomorrow. Two starts ago she won well at Doncaster, before well and truly proving me wrong at Nottingham by taking the step up in class in her stride with an emphatic success. David Egan partnered her that day and remains in the saddle today. She has a further rise in grade to deal with today but the manner of her success last time shows she's very ca...

No luck yesterday, Incus finishing second means it wasn't a complete disaster but he was far too keen in the early stages of the race. The winner of that race was hard to find but couldn't have done it any easier and looks one to keep on the right side of next time out. 14:40 Bath - PICKET LINE 12/1 0.5 Points Each-Way This is a competitive handicap here and while Debonaire David bids for a hatrick, he looks opposable despite his progressive looking profile, as his two wins came on the all weather surfaces at Wolverhampton and Lingfield - while the current going is good, the forecast rain looks likely to change that. Burauq also comes into this in winning form and did it readily over course and distance last time but he is inconsistent and up 5lb today. The one I like is Picket Line, who looked unlucky not to finish closer on the all weather at Kempton last time, after missing the break and being forced wide into the straight, he stayed on strongly to finish a never neare...

Some at bigger prices for Tuesday, hopefully get a decent winner on the board and really crack on. 18:00 Chelmsford - HUMOUR 25/1 0.5 Points Each Way This is low grade stuff hence the small stakes, but Humour appeals here at a big price. His form figures and wide draw are probably enough to put most people off. But let's have a look at what makes him worth a small punt. It's worth ignoring his two most recent runs in which he finished seventh as they came on turf and he is 0-16 on turf. Previous to those runs he finished 3rd of 14 over course and distance off a mark of 48, his last win came off a mark of 55 in October and he has won off marks as high as 61, so he's well up to winning off his rating today of 47. It is just a case  of whether he is on a going day, but at odds of 25/1 I'm willing to take a chance. 20:50 Nottingham - INCUS 15/2 1 Point Each Way Incus went into his latest start chasing a hatrick but was facing a seriously tough task rac...

No posts for a couple of days as I graduated on Friday so haven't had the chance to look at the racing. I was disappointed to see Fantasy Keeper lose on Friday as he was a confident selection, but Zumran handled the rise in the weights and step up in grade very well and looks a horse very much to keep on the right side of. After five days of selections on the blog, ended back at even money from the advised stake, so nothing won nothing lost after this week. Onwards to this week and hopefully a week with a few more winners.  I had written up a bet at Ayr today, Dark Defender, but he has been declared a non runner. I don't want to put something up on here for the sake of it, which I was probably guilty of doing last week, so I'll keep my powder dry and get studying for tomorrow.

Yesterday's selection took a telling late drift and ran no sort of race. Onwards today with another 2pt selection, graduating today so won't be able to watch either race but hopefully I come back to two winners 15:05 Nottingham -  FANTASY KEEPER 9/4 2 Points Win I backed Fantasy Keeper when he won well over course and distance back in may (awful after timing I know), and kept the faith when Ryan Moore was booked next time out upped in class at Haydock. Despite starting favourite he couldn't follow up but still ran a race full of promise having to switch to the near side rail and staying on strongly to finish a never nearer third. The sixth placed horse from that race has since gone on to win a class 4 race at Kempton and the ninth won next time out at Haydock when dropped to 5F. This drop back to class 5 company can be seen as a massive positive, as he still has a progressive looking sprinting profile. Worth noting that Zumran won convincingly last time at Doncast...

Yesterday resulted in both selections again being well supported and also another 2 point stakes winner albeit at a short price but did it nicely. The other selection Fashion Theory ran a nice race and was only run out of it late on and had the door shut on her when being passed so can probably be upgraded slightly on the bare form. But another day in profit so nothing to moan about. Hopefully get one on the board at a bigger price today. 14:30 Hamilton - POETS TIME 11/2 1 Point Win When first looking at the race I was keen to take on the favourite, Camanche Grey, given his win last time out here was on soft ground and he is up 5lb for that success. He has won on better ground but that was over two years ago now. Therefore, I would much rather side with the more unexposed profile of Poets Time. She showed nothing in her first three starts in maidens, however the switch to handicap company at Haydock last time out resulted in her finishing third at 50/1 despite being 2lbs out of...

Yesterdays two selections both ran well with Imphal winning easily at bath at 11/10. While Hadley was backed in from 14/1 all the way to 9/4 co favourite but could only manage 3rd, but ran very well given the weights as expected. Just one tentative bet for Wednesday as it stands, with what turned out to be a fairly lengthy summary of the opener at Lingfield. 14:30 Lingfield - FASHION THEORY 4/1 1 Point win The opener here at Lingfield looks like it should be won by one of those with experience, bearing in mind the three debutants either come from yards not necessarily associated with first time winners or breeding suggests they'll be better in time. Dukinta has not shown much in two starts and went off 50/1 last time so I'm happy to put a line through her. Lady Valdean has looked a tough battling filly in her starts to date, and has finished placed in all of her last three starts, two of which were in France. The booking of SDS looks to be a good pairing and it loo...

Yesterday's selection finished in the places for a small profit, although the favourite, Lucent Dream, proved to be too strong. The winner could be one to look out for in the future, bearing in mind a lot went wrong for him (clipping heels when turning for home) and he still put the race to bed quite comfortably. 18:40  Thirsk - HADLEY 14/1 1 Point win Although Hadley is far from favoured by the weights in this seller, he looks one of the few runners in the field who comes into this in form, having losing out by only a neck on his most recent start. Placed in all of his last seven starts, his form is comfortably the most consistent in the race and looks a reliable sort who will run his race, which can't be said for many others in this contest. The favourite in this race, Semana Santa, is entitled to be favourite after going close when finishing second in a claimer up at Newcastle on the all-weather in March. However, at 5/4 she is too short to back considering she is ye...

After saying  I  would for a while, I've finally decided to start a blog, I follow racing as much as I can and have been learning and betting on the sport for the last four years. So as the name suggests I'm both a university student and a 'student punter' - still learning the game of horse racing. Hopefully this blog can chuck out a few winners whilst helping me to become a better punter.  Just the one selection as it stands for Monday 15:30 Ayr - RUBIS 8/1 (e/w) Rubis won well over course and distance in June, a smooth success where she travelled much the best and didn't have to be ridden too hard in the closing stages, winning by just over a length. Following this win, she was stepped up in trip to 1m4f under a penalty at Ripon where she finished 6th. This was a good run considering the penalty she had to carry and the fact that she raced far too keenly throughout the contest and yet still was not beaten far. Returning to 1m2f and racin...