The Student Punter

16:45 Ascot A three year losing run is an obvious concern, but Polybius  caught the eye last time out and looks worth chancing in this sprint handicap. He clearly didn't have the best of times out in Meydan at the start of the year but returned to these shores with a respectable run at Epsom. He then ran very well when stepping back up to class 2 handicap company over course and distance on his most recent start, where he finished second of the near side group and was probably left with a bit too much to do in terms of being able to catch the leaders. David Simcock's gelding seems to run particularly well at Ascot and is starting to look well treated on a couple of pieces of course and distance form, particularly his fourth in the Wokingham last year off a mark 6lb higher than today's. The booking of James Doyle also looks another positive but due to his poor strike rate I'm going to play sensibly and back him each-way. Polybius 6/1  - 1 Point Each-Way

19:00 Beverley Last time out course and distance winner Desert Ace commands respect for his recent success but there is reason to think Musharrif  is capable of turning that form around. Declan Carroll's charge was left with plenty to do and was denied a clear run at a crucial stage that day, the front pair had already got away by the time his path was clear but he finished off his race very strongly. He is now 2lb better off at the weights with the winner and the second, Bosham , isn't ideally drawn for his attacking style today and may well set the race up for the selection. This course clearly suits Musharrif with form figures of 1143, one of those wins including this race last year off a 6lb higher mark. The yard has hit form in recent days too, with two of their last three runners winning, so Musharrif may be primed to take this race for a second year in a row. Patrick looks an obvious danger dropping in class significantly off a dwindling mark but has only offered m...

15:45 Haydock Two in the line-up stand up for obvious reasons here with both Alsvinder and Glamorous Rocket both bidding to complete four-timers. However, both have been favoured by racing prominently in their successes and there's a chance this could turn into a bit of a burn up, with Jabbarockie also racing up with the pace in recent starts. Signore Piccolo would be the obvious alternative with the booking of Adam Kirby catching the eye, he won over course and distance off a 1lb higher mark last June and has run creditably so far this season without reaching the heights of the last campaign. However, I'm willing to chance Dazacam  each-way instead. I've missed some of the fancier prices but I think she still rates a good bet at 25/1. She caught the eye on her penultimate start for Michael Herrington over this course and distance, where despite being hampered leaving the stalls she stayed on well to finish third. The winner has won again since in a higher grade, of...

14:30 Hamilton Kodimoor  won this last year off a 6lb higher mark and looks to have claims of winning it for a second year in a row. The son of Kodiac did well to finish fourth over course and distance on his penultimate start given how prominently he was positioned in a race which favoured those held up, while being hampered in the final furlong didn't do his chances any favours either. He returned over this course and distance and finished a respectable fourth behind the re-opposing Our Place In Loule. The handicapper has dropped him a further 2lb for that fourth placed finish making him 6lb better off with the winner on today's terms. Zig Zag Zyggy is an interesting contender dropping to the minimum trip for the first time and is probably a worthy favourite given how close he went in a higher grade last time, so it looks worth backing the selection each-way. Kodimoor 9/1  - 0.5 Points Each-Way 15:30 Hamilton This is a fairly open little handicap despite the small...

15:10 Lingfield Sir Mark Prescott has been absolutely flying of late, even sending out a rare debutant winner at 33/1 yesterday. He saddles Boodley  here, one of only two 3 year olds in the line up and despite the uninspiring form figures, she looks the most interesting contender here. She made her debut over 6f at Wolverhampton at the end of May where she showed signs of ability being the only runner to make any ground from the rear, but ultimately finished a modest fourth of thirteen beaten ten lengths. Her two subsequent runs have come over seven furlongs, which may just have stretched her stamina at this early stage of her career. Being by Acclamation, this drop to the minimum trip should be right up her street and there is a very good chance this mark of 56 could severely underestimate her based on breeding. She is a full sister to Emirates Flyer who was fifth behind No Nay Never in the Norfolk Stakes as a two year old and is currently racing in group and listed company wi...

20:10 Wolverhampton Real Estate made the most of his weight for age allowance when landing a bit of a touch here last week but faces a very different task back against some potential improvers under a penalty. My eye is particularly drawn towards Dutch Monarch , he was a beaten favourite last time out but did very well to finish as close as he did under a poorly judged ride. Despite being drawn in stall 1 and racing prominently in the very early stages he was shuffled back through the field and was boxed in before being denied a clear run turning for home, when he eventually found racing room the ship had already sailed but he made pleasing late headway towards the line. It is almost a given that he will improve again for that run given the stable he is with and with Luke Morris taking over the reins he could pose a serious threat to the short priced favourite. Dutch Monarch 7/2  - 1 Point Win

As you will be able to tell from some of my selections from today, it is the time of year where it is worth keeping three year olds on side in handicaps, as they catch up with their elders physically and often make good use of their weight for age allowances. 13:40 Newmarket Despite his finishing position of seventeenth, Mukalal ran a very eye-catching race in the Royal Hunt Cup last time out and there is a chance he could prove too good for his rivals today. Marcus Tregoning's gelding ran very freely in the early stages of the race, before making smooth headway a couple of furlongs out, in the closing stages of the race his earlier exertions took their toll and he weakened into midfield. That run came off the back of a 257 day absence and, with this being his second run after a wind operation, there is every reason to expect he will improve for that run. In comparison to his rivals he is relatively unexposed and although on the face of it his draw in stall 4 may not be idea...

17:10 Ascot Simpson  may not have as attractive form figures as some of his rivals but I give him a good each-way shout in this mile three year-old handicap. Ed Walker obviously holds him in high regard as he returned to action this year in a listed contest when finishing fifth behind the likes of Crossed Baton and Dee Ex Bee. He then got a bit warm in the preliminaries at Chester but managed to finish a respectable third and was then unlucky in another class 2 contest next time out at Haydock when denied a clear run on a couple of occasions before staying on well when the gaps opened. You can put a line through his run in the Britannia at Royal Ascot where he was drawn on completely the wrong side and never had a chance after racing in a trio on the far side away from all the action. Dropping down to a class 3 handicap with his yard in great form at the moment, he looks a good each-way bet. Simpson 9/1  - 1 Point Each-Way

Saturday was a great day in more ways than one, we had a couple of winners at nice prices and England took another step towards World Cup glory. The nerves for Wednesday night are already setting in but I've found a bet tomorrow which can take our minds off the football even if just for a little bit. 15:15 Wolverhampton Ebbisham  has an outstanding record fresh and looks worth backing off the back of a 150 day absence here. John Mackie's gelding has form figures of 15111 when returning from layoffs of 50+ days. The most recent of those wins came over course and distance in October off a 2lb higher mark, which was a run as good as any in his career to date. The current favourite, Energia Flavio , has obvious claims after bolting up in a claimer last time but still has to prove himself back handicapping. I think it's worth taking a chance on a fresh set of legs to get him beat. Ebbisham 8/1  - 1 Point Win

12:20 Sandown Muthmir and Judicial finished first and eighth respectively over course and distance at the beginning of last month and I think the latter has a good chance of turning that form on it's head. He had the door slammed in his face on numerous occasions in that contest and the passage only cleared when it was all too late. Also, the form of his seasonal debut, a neck second to Mabs Cross in a group 3 at Newmarket, has been franked with the winner going on to finish third in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot. Julie Camacho's gelding looks to have his optimal conditions and can hopefully get the blog July's first winner. Judicial 9/2  - 2 Points Win 12:35 Haydock Ghostwatch is clearly progressing with racing and must continue to if he is to take up his group 2 entry later this season. He relished the step up to 1m6f last time but based purely on what he has achieved so far this mark of 90 looks steep enough. Similar comments apply to Rude Awakening ...

16:05 Sandown Pivoine was the logical starting point for this race given the emphatic manor of his success over course and distance last time out, however he has been raised 10lb and is up in class today so I'm looking to one of the three year olds for my bet. Three year olds have a decent record in this contest in the last few years and I think Blue Laureate  could enhance that record today. He is having just his second start for Ian Williams and he was certainly looked after on his debut for the yard when seventh here at Sandown last month. He broke sharply but James Doyle took a pull and dropped him out last, he made encouraging late headway under a considerate ride in a race where it paid to be up with the pace. The form of that race could hardly be working out better, with the second, third, fourth and eighth placed horses (These are the only four to have raced since that contest). It looked like a ride with the future in mind and if today is the day, then 10/1 looks a m...