The Student Punter

A quiet day in terms of British flat racing so I've decided to take the blog across the Irish Sea for an each-way poke at a double figure price. 16:05 Curragh Master Speaker  is yet to win beyond six furlongs but he has run some promising races in some top quality handicaps recently, shaping as though this trip is well within his capabilities. One particular piece of form which stands out is his run at Leopardstown on his penultimate start behind Zorion. As mentioned previously on this blog, the form of that race has worked out remarkably well, especially now Settle For Bay has come out and won the Royal Hunt Cup doing handstands. Master Speaker didn't have the clearest of passages that day and although there's no way he would have won the race, the way he stayed on in the closing stages suggested he may have finished a lot closer. Last time out he once again made significant late headway when possibly left with too much to do behind Saltonstall. He had Massif Central ...

It looks a great days racing with the Irish Derby taking place at the Curragh and some good racing on the July course at Newmarket but the blog is heading to Newcastle for a trio of bets on their Northumberland Plate card. SkyBet are paying 6 places on both of today's selections so worth getting on there if you can. 12:20 Newcastle Shanghai Glory  looks a standout bet for me in the opener at Newcastle. He has some smart handicap form in the book from last season, notably when fifth in the stewards cup off a mark of 101 on ground which would have been softer than ideal. Charlie Hills' charge then ran a blinder in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon when finishing best of those racing stands side. He clearly needed his first run of the season but improved bundles to finish an unlucky third at Epsom on his latest start. The winner of that Epsom contest has since followed up off an 8lb higher mark and this mark of 97 could prove to be lenient for Shanghai Glory, especially on a s...

We went agonisingly close to landing the winner of the Diamond Jubilee on Saturday, but nearly isn't good enough! At least we landed some each-way money and I've found another each-way shout for Monday's action. 19:50 Wolverhampton His form figures aren't the most inspiring in this field, but I think French  looks overpriced in this 7f Class 6 Handicap. He's had excuses his last few starts, but prior to that he was a very good second over six furlongs here at Wolverhampton. He did well to finish second having pulled hard early on and was staying on well at the end, suggesting this step up in trip could suit. The winner of that contest followed up on his next start and is now rated 11lb higher, so the form looks solid. Since that race he raced twice on the fibresand at Southwell which clearly didn't suit him and then looked in need of the run on his comeback from a 127 absence here earlier this month. He looks a good each-way bet in a race where Black Truff...

It was great to land the winner of the Royal Hunt Cup on Wednesday and after another couple of days off I think I've found some betting propositions for Saturday's action at Ascot. 16:20 - Diamond Jubilee Stakes Although he comes out top of the pile on official ratings, Harry Angel has questions to answer here given all four of his defeats have come at this course. That said he made a very pleasing reappearance, a performance which RPR's have on par with his Haydock Sprint Cup success. Australian raider Redkirk Warrior has is a multiple Group 1 winner who has to be respected, he holds Merchant Navy on his last run and is now 12lb better off with that rival. The Tin Man will have been aimed at this for a long time in his attempt to retain his crown but there is one at a bigger price who looks a good each-way angle into the race, step forward City Light . The French trained sprinter was very impressive on all-weather championships day at Lingfield when turning over th...

After failing to find any bets worth posting on the first day, I think I've found a couple who are worth a few quid on day two of the royal meeting. 15:05 - Queen's Vase This is a race where I think its worth keeping things simple, Nelson  sets a clear form standard for the others to aim at and he's the one I'll be siding with. He beat current favourite Kew Gardens as a two year-old before just failing to catch Roaring Lion when a neck second in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket. Aidan O'Brien's Frankel colt then posted a career best when landing the Ballysax Stakes on his seasonal reappearance, a performance that puts him a good few pounds clear of his rivals today. Last time out he disappointed in the Derrinstown Derby Trial which may be why Ryan Moore has opted for Kew Gardens, but that rival had a hard race at epsom just 18 days ago and its possible those exertions may have left their mark. Donnacha O'Brien has certainly proven himself at the to...

Apologies for the lack of recent content but a combination of my university workload and wanting to keep my powder dry for Royal Ascot have meant a quiet start to the month. That being said, I've found one at a decent price for tomorrow which can hopefully put a few extra pennies in the Ascot piggy bank. 15:35 York Beshaayir was the one that first took my eye when looking at this competitive three year old sprint handicap. William Haggas' filly has only had four starts to date and still holds both Commonwealth Cup and Coronation Stakes entries. She can be forgiven her latest start where fluffed the start and raced keenly throughout but the market hasn't missed her here. Tim Easterby has won three of the last five runnings of this, so Angels and Staxton both have to be respected for the Yorkshire handler. Commander Han went into my tracker after an impressive win at Chelmsford back in February but he disappointed when sent off odds on favourite here at York recently ...

15:50 Yarmouth Its easy to make a case for both of those in the race who carry penalties for their successes last time out. While, despite disappointing recently, Outlaw Torn could be hard to peg back from his handy draw if getting his own way out in front. I can see why Right About Now is near the top of the market given the form of the Chris Dwyer yard and David Egan taking off a handy 3lbs. However, I'm willing to take a chance on Higgy's Heartbeat . On breeding (a half brother to Ornate by Acclamation) there is very little to say this trip of 1m2f would be ideal but the way he shaped on his most recent start seemed to suggest otherwise. Dean Ivory's gelding is still a maiden after ten starts but caught the eyelash time out over seven furlongs at Chelmsford. He missed the break and did well to make headway from the rear when not best positioned but had the door slammed in his face when staying on in the final furlong.  If he can break on better terms and stays this...