The Student Punter

17:35 Thirsk Only advising a small bet in this race so I will try and keep this short and sweet. Zig Zag  was having just his second start for Phillip Kirby on Wednesday and that was off the back of a 213 day absence. He shaped as though he may have needed the run and based on some of his hurdles form when in the care of Joseph O'Brien, and his official hurdle rating of 125, he looks potentially chucked in off 57 today. On jockey bookings he could be the perceived second string, but Callum Rodriguez claims a valuable 3lb and he could go well at an each-way price. Zig Zag 9/1  - 0.5 Points Each-Way 18:20 Southwell Battle Lines sets the standard here with an official rating of 77 but he has been a frustrating horse for his backers, failing to fulfil his early promise and still yet to register a number one on his form figures. Having said that, the form of his recent second at Chelmsford was given a boost when the fourth outran huge odds on the Rowley mile to finish se...

16:25 Wetherby The current going at Wetherby could pose a problem for a number of the runners in this seven furlong handicap and there looks to be some good each-way value with a number of firms paying out on four places. Hajjam is the obvious starting point when looking at this race, he is a progressive type, is proven on this ground and his final run of the season looks good form in the context of this race. The long break shouldn't be a concern as he won returning from a 153 day break last year. So with many things in his favour he looks the right favourite, the only negative being his price. Therefore I'm willing to look at an each-way alternative in the shape of Club Wexford . This will be his first run for Roger Fell since switching stables from Jim Bolger and he looks very well treated on some of last seasons form. One piece of form which sticks out is his run behind Pincheck at Naas, he had the tough task of trying to give 9lb to Jessica Harrington's progressiv...

15:35 Sandown There's a cracking card at Sandown on Friday which includes some exciting horses returning to the track. In the Bet365 Mile the Sussex stakes winner Here Comes When returns to action, he has to be feared given he won first time out last year and is one of just two Group 1 winners in the field. The other, Robin Of Navan , certainly has the class to win a race like this but all of his wins have come in France and his stable form has to be of some concern. Of course, most eyes will be drawn to the devastatingly impressive Lincoln winner, Addeybb . He could be called the winner a long long way out at Doncaster last time and is obviously still very unexposed and he may well develop into a top Group 1 performer. However, on official ratings and the evidence we have seen thus far, the question remains whether he should be as short in the betting as he currently is. Therefore I'm willing to take him on with an each-way punt on Aljazzi . Marco Botti's mare has a f...

14:10 Epsom A competitive sprint to open the card at Epsom with a few of the usual suspects in the lineup. Boom The Groom made an encouraging start to the year, finishing second on his first two starts back in January, but he has disappointed since. Having said that, he is now down to a mark of 93, 3lb lower than when second (beaten a head) on one of those occasions in January, and with his trainer in flying form at present, it would be no shock if he got his head back in front here. Just That Lord comes here after bolting up on the sand at Lingfield and bids to take advantage of a turf mark which is 5lb lower than his new all-weather rating, and is just 1lb higher than when second in this contest last year. Having said that there doesn't look to be much juice in his current price so I am looking elsewhere. The one I like here is Justanotherbottle  for Declan Carroll. He ran in some top handicap sprints towards the backend of last season and this race could suit him well. Decl...

15:45 Newbury Given he was only beaten half a length by the subsequent impressive Lincoln winner on his final start last season, Afaak will be many peoples idea of the winner. But he doesn't look much value at around 6/1 favourite as I write this. Another near the top of the market is Taqdeer , whose disappointing run in the spring mile when favourite is easily excusable on account of the soft ground, with the drying ground in his favour it is easy to see why he is being well supported to make amends. However, it looks as though there will still be soft in the going description come race time, which means I'm willing to chance one at a price. I was quite keen on the chances of Ballard Down   in the Lincoln, but he was ultimately unsuited by the draw. His performance at Newmarket last year was so impressive that it has stuck in my mind and with a bit of cut in the ground today, and with the possibility he may come on for his seasonal debut, I'm willing to take the six ...

19:15 Bath This is an open looking sprint where Dougan is likely to have his supporters racing off his lowest mark for two years after a recent second at Wolverhampton, but he was still beaten six lengths on that occasion and his 0-16 record on the turf is enough to make me want to look elsewhere. T he Daley Express won here at Bath at the end of last month, form which has been well advertised by the second who was only beaten a neck off a 2lb higher mark in a higher grade on his next start. However, Ronald Harris' gelding tends to perform best on softer ground which could count against him given the mini heatwave we seem to be experiencing. Instead, I like the look of Delegate This Lord ,  he is 2-2 at Bath and David Egan taking back control of the reins has to be seen as a huge positive, the horse has form figures of 3111 when the talented claimer has been on board. He still looks fairly treated, only 4lb higher than when scoring readily on his most recent visit to this cou...

16:10 Newmarket A maximum field of 19 runners to narrow down in order to find the winner of this competitive handicap, in which many eyes will be drawn to Fire Brigade . Michael Bell's charge was very well supported in the lead up to the Lincoln where he disappointed, he may well bounce back but makes little appeal as the 6/1 co-favourite. Mafaaheem currently shares favouritism and was a progressive 3 year old for Owen Burrows, given he has proven himself to be effective on soft ground he has to be a big danger. However, preference is for Charlie Fellowes' Chiefofchiefs .  He ran a blinder behind the subsequent Lincoln winner Addeybb when last seen, with Fire Brigade a couple of lengths in front. A race in which he was carried over to the nearside rail by the other runners and didn't have the clearest of runs.  He has been gelded since and with a big pull in the weights with Fire Brigade   (now 13lb better off), I see no reason why he should be double the price and h...