The Student Punter

13:15 Thirsk After a fairly disappointing campaign in 2019  Zap   looks very well handicapped at present and the 2lb he was dropped for his reappearance looks rather generous. It was a very encouraging return to action as he did best of those held up that day, making nice late headway into fifth. The form of that run was also given a nice boost at the Royal meeting this week when Presidential ran a belter in the Royal Hunt Cup consolation race off a 5lb higher mark. Suitcase 'N' Taxi  and Northgate Lad  should ensure there is a decent pace for the selection to aim at and with firms offering 4 places each-way he looks a cracking each-way bet here. Zap 7/1  - 1 Point Each-Way 18:30 Windsor I fancied Rasheeq  to win last time out at Newbury and although he couldn't write repel the late challenge of Global Hope, that run deserves a lot of credit given he raced up with a strong pace and stayed on well all the way to the line, whereas other prominent racers folde...

15:00 Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) Elarqam  is definitely in danger of becoming a cliff horse for me and he probably doesn't win as often as he should, but I really liked what I saw on his return at Haydock earlier this month, and I like it even more now given Lord North boosted the form with his emphatic win in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes yesterday. Elarqam was only beaten a short head that day and was closing again at the line after looking beat, this will be the first time he has tackled 1m4f but I think it may be just what he wants. The best run of his career came in York Stakes when demolishing Addeybb on his beloved soft ground, he won going away that day and stays on well in his races, suggesting this step in trip could unlock a bit extra. Anthony Van Dyck  obviously commands respect as a Derby winner and his comeback at Newmarket was a strong run but he has a patchy profile and I'm not sure these softer conditions will play to his strengths. A couple who do look like...

13:50 Wolferton Stakes (Listed Race) Thursday at Royal Ascot doesn't look a big punting day for me but there's one at a big price I'm going to chance in the Wolferton in the shape of Extra Elusive . He was only beaten a head by the very useful Elarqam on his final start in 2019, with Royal Line and Fifth position in behind who have both advertised the form well since. After being gelded at the end of last year, Roger Charlton's son of Mastercraftsman was sent off a short price 5/2 for the Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield but he raced to freely andwasn't suited to the track there and may well appreciate the return to a longer straight here. Many firms are offering 4 places so I'll be having a few pennies each-way at 33/1. Extra Elusive 33/1  - 0.5 Points Each-Way 14:25 Jersey Stakes Another small stakes play here, Repartee  is in my notebook courtesy of a huge run at Doncaster on his final run last season. He was fiercely keen and hampered in the early stages that...

13:15 Silver Royal Hunt Cup Handicap The Royal Hunt Cup is one of my favourite races of the season and followers of this blog have done well in the race before, this year in addition to the main race we have a consolation race too.  Ouzo  heads the betting at the time of writing and he looks to have an excellent chance based on his seasonal reappearance effort when beaten a neck by Bell Rock at Newmarket. His runs style will be well suited by this contest and he is versatile with regards to ground so he ticks a lot of boxes. Unfortunately he doesn't tick the important value box in terms of a single bet here but I will be adding him to a multiple (read on for more...). With six places available at a number of bookmakers I'm going to take advantage and back the top weight  Sir Busker  each-way. He posted a career best RPR when returning to action at Newcastle earlier this month and is another hold-up style runner who will be suited by this race. The form of that race a...

13:15 Buckingham Palace Handicap Going to keep this write up fairly brief as the price of Kaeso  is contracting all the time and he looks a fairly solid looking each-way bet. He posted the best run of his career when finishing second over course and distance on his final start of last season, beaten only by the Ascot specialist Raising Sand.  Nigel Tinkler's charge tends to need his first run of the season so I wouldn't read too much into his run at Newcastle on reappearance, but it should have blown away the cobwebs for this. The excellent Oisin Murphy takes the ride and his mount looks a bet to me with many firms paying 6 places each way. Daarik finished in front of the selection last time out at Newcastle but he doesn't offer much value and all of his best runs have come on an artificial surface, whereas the selection is very versatile ground-wise, so if the showers do arrive it shouldn't be a problem. Kaeso 8/1  - 1 Point Each-Way 13:50 Queen Anne Stakes (Group ...