The Student Punter

It's been a great month for the blog whatever happens over the the next couple of days, but hopefully Arc weekend can be a profitable one. I'm really looking forward to Sunday's racing, hopefully i'll find a winning bet but either way the quality is so high it will be brilliant to watch. 14:40 Haydock - QUENCH DOLLY 13/2 1 Point Each-Way Quench Dolly was very impressive on her last start when winning at not-so-glorious Goodwood, a race which has subsequently worked out very well. The second that day, Maakaasib, has won on the all-weather since. Intense Romance and Poet's Society have also won subsequently, bearing in mind the selection beat the later 7 1/2 lengths, the form looks very solid. Theres no reason to think that she has finished progressing and she may well be up to defying her 6lb rise, with George Bucknell remaining in the saddle taking off 5lbs. Back at a firm paying 4 places. 15:35 Newmarket - BATTLE OF MARATHON 50/1 0.5 Points Each-Way B...

17:05 Haydock- INSTANT ATTRACTION 15/2 1 Point Win Having been rated 102 at one point last year today's mark of 85 is a very attractive one for Instant Attraction. The booking of Adam McNamara catches the eye here too as his 3lb could prove valuable in a competitive contest. He is certain to appreciate underfoot conditions which can't be said for all of his rivals and comes here off a creditable third in this grade on heavy going. Happy to have a point on the nose at the bigger price of 15/2 available at Betfair as I write this. 18:45 Newcastle - COOL TEAM 4/1 1 Point Win Cool Team was only beaten half a lengh last time at Kempton when a stong finishing third and he gets the chance to race off the same mark today. Although the way he shaped in that race suggests he may be better when stepped up in trip, his win at York shows this distance shouldn't pose too much of a problem. He clearly handles the Tapeta and I think with a better timed challenge he may be up ...

As mentioned been back at uni this week so getting back into the swing of things, do have a bet for tomorrow but no write up. 17:15 Redcar - KIWI BAY 20/1 0.5 Points Each-Way Will be backing at one of the firms paying 4 places and profit and loss will be settled accordingly.

Another winner on Saturday at 6/1 capped off a good week for the blog and leaves us in a nice profit. I can't help but feel we were unlucky in not getting another winner on the board on Saturday, Born To Finish (advised at 10/1) wasn't given the best of rides and found trouble in running, then stayed on late to finished third and land us our place money. I will be starting my masters at University this week, so if the blog is particularly quiet that will be the reason why. Although I do plan to carry on as I am at the moment. Let's hope we can start the week with a winner. 14:55 Kempton - TANGRAMM 28/1 0.5 Points Each-Way Tangramm looks a big price in this 1m2f handicap and is worth backing each-way. He hinted at a return to form last time out when beaten only a length here at Kempton over 1m3f under todays pilot. It wasn't until inside the final furlong that he was passed by his rivals so this step back in distance looks like it could suit. He has now slipped bac...

18:10 Wolverhampton - MIRACLE GARDEN 6/1 1 Point Each-Way 18:40 Wolverhampton - BORN TO FINISH 10/1 0.5 Points Each-Way

15:50 Ayr - TOOFI 16/1 1 Point Each-Way

15:10 Ayr - JAY KAY 10/3 1 Point Win Jay kay is a bit of a course specialist here at Ayr and is fancied to make it a fifth course win. He comes here off the back of a cracking effort finishing second to Ventura Secret at Carlisle, where he didn't manage to race as close to the pace as he usually likes to. That run puts him 4lbs well in on official ratings for todays contest, putting him 3lbs below his last winning mark and he has the added bonus of Patrick O'Hanlon's 7lb claim to aid his cause. 19:15 Chelmsford - CHELSEA CORSAGE 33/1 0.5 Points Each-Way There are a few risks attached to this hence the big price and smaller bet. Chelsea Corsage has been well beaten on three of her four starts to date, but her one promising run came at Dundalk on the polytrack, which she encounters today for the first time since. That run was almost a year ago and the horse she finished second behind, Glastonbury Song, has proven to be a decent animal who has been contesting grou...

A brilliant day for the blog on Tuesday, with both selections doing the business. Meaning the last three bets have all won at odds of 9/1, 10/1 and 7/2. Hoping to keep the ball rolling with two bets for Wednesday's action. As well as the bets posted below, I'm interested to see how First Eleven gets on in the 14:00 at Sandown. I'm not very good with my two year old knowledge, but his pedigree jumps off the page being a half brother to the fantastic Kingsman and sired by Frankel. I won't be having a bet on him but I will be watching with interest. 15:25 Beverley - MEDALLA DE ORO 3/1 1 Point Win I can't have the difference in price between the top two in the betting here, I feel Medalla De Oro is overpriced. The favourite as I write this is Bolder Bob, who won well on soft ground last at Leicester last month but he is upped in class and racing off a 8lb higher mark here. Medalla De Or, on the other hand, comes into this contest 2lb well in after finishing a ...

Back after a few days off and a good weekend at the St Leger meeting. Was disappointed to 16:45 Yarmouth - OCEAN TEMPTRESS 9/1 1 Point Each-Way Ocean Temptress looks a decent price here considering the question marks about the ground for many of his opponents. The favourite, Blazed, has shown promise in maidens thus far but has never encountered ground this soft and his breeding suggests it may not be ideal. Quatrieme Ami looks better on the all-weather so todays softer going may also be a negative, similar comments apply to North Creek - although the booking of Jim Crowley certainly catches the eye. Ocean Temptress on the other hand, won on ground with cut in it twice in a row before attempting to make all at too strong a pace in his hat-trick attempt. He's been dropped 3lb for his latest run and, although that still leaves him 3lb above his last winning mark, it looks workable. It also looks feasible that he could get his own way out in front, given the lack of pace in the...

Back after a few days off, I was on the lookout for bets but nothing stood out, best not to try and force a bet and instead be patient. Hopefully that patience can pay off with a winner on Friday. I'm off to Doncaster for the St Leger on Saturday so I will try and get some race previews up for that card over the next couple of days. 15:00 Doncaster - TIME TO STUDY 7/2 2 Points Win Time To Study is the sole three year old in this line up, which is key because it means he receives a hefty 10lb weight for age allowance from his rivals. His form stacks up too, having been beaten only three and a half lengths in the Queens Vase at Royal Ascot. The winner of that race, Stradivarius has strong claims in the St Leger on Saturday after following up his Ascot win by turning over gold cup hero Big Orange. The third from the Queens Vase, Secret Advisor, has also advertised the form by winning the Melrose at York next time. Time To Study should improve for his last outing which came off t...

14:45 Ascot - MJJACK 12/1 1 Point Each-Way It is very likely that ground will be testing across the country on Saturday and looking at the forecast for Ascot that may well play into the hands of Karl Burke's Mjjack. In the contest of this race he's relatively  unexposed having had just eight starts to date, he still looks a progressive sort and has winning form on soft and heavy ground. He finished second in a very similar contest to todays and although he has been raised 4lb since, he may well continue his upward curve and double figure odds are appealing each-way. Paddy Power, Boylesports, SkyBet and Betfred paying 5 places. 15:35 Haydock - BENBATL 5/1 1 Point Each-Way Happy to admit this is a filthy scumbag each way bet but its too filthy to resist. Especially given Boylesports are giving us 4 places. This horse stands out in this company as he has looked to have the scope to be a group 1 horse in performances to date. He gets a very handy 5lb three year old al...

16:25 Ascot - ALQAMAR 15/8 2 Points Win Alqamar takes a big drop in class here, last seen in the group 2 Queens Vase were he was far from disgraced despite running too keen in the opening stages of the race, he steps down into a class 3 handicap today. He has been gelded since his run at Royal Ascot which could help him to settle better and the booking of Ryan Moore for todays contest looks like they mean business. 17:05 Musselburgh - ECONOMIC CRISIS 25/1 1 Point Each-Way It's only nine days since Economic Crisis last ran over the course and distance, finishing seventh of the ten runners. However, he ran much better that day than his finishing position suggests, he travelled nicely into the race but had the door shut on him at a vital stage in the race, when he found racing room it was all too late. He takes a drop in class from class 4 to class 5 today and is 8lb below his highest winning mark which he won off just over a year ago. With more luck in running he looks t...

15:30 Haydock - WASM 28/1 1 Point Each-Way Wasm disappointed last time out  but it's a possibility that the heavy ground was against him that day, he is better judged on his previous start where he landed a maiden in impressive fashion on his debut for Roger Fell. The fourth from that contest has since gone on and scored next time out at Goodwood so the form looks good. Also it's interesting to note the speed ratings available on the ATR website by Lawrence Taylor put Wasm top of the pile in this race. WIGAN WARRIOR 66/1 0.5 Points Each-Way I'm also going to have a saver on Wigan Warrior in the same race as above. He won two starts ago over course and distance and is 3lb higher for that today, he has since returned to the same track and finished well beaten. Though in his career he has shown a tendency to run a poor race following a win and may be up to bouncing back here. 20:40 Chelmsford - NELLIES DANCER 22/1 1 Point Each-Way This...

Disappointing to not get a winner yesterday, with both selections being smashed up in the betting but failing to place. Not a great day of racing on Wednesday but found one which looks worth a bet at Chepstow and now (unfortunately) I'm back in the UK, I've had enough time for a write up on the selection. 16:10 Chepstow - LUCKY CLOVER 4/1 1 Point Win This mare was put up on the blog on her last start at Bath when she finished fourth of six, but the ground went against the selection that day and she is better judged on her course and distance second when beaten only a neck on her previous start. She is just a pound higher than that day and the form of her win at Bath prior to that has been franked by the second, Ask The Guru, who went on to win his next two starts. Lucky Clover looked to win with a bit in hand that day so the step up to class 5 company shouldn't be a problem and she won off this mark of 58 at Bath back in May of last year. She beat one of todays line u...

19:20 Kempton - GAVLAR 10/1 1 Point Each-Way 19:50 Kempton - DUTIFUL SON 12/1 1 Point Win

Writing this from my hotel room on my last night in NYC. Gutted to be leaving, absolutely loved the city and can't wait to come back. Hopefully a winner at double figure odds can help ease the pain of a return to reality and the journey back to London. (Still no write up for this selection, will resume writing up reasoning when I'm back in the UK) 17:00 Brighton - EVANESCENT 11/1 1 Point Each-Way