The Student Punter

14:30 Chesham Stakes 7f (Listed)  &  16:20 Hardwicke Stakes 1m4f (Group 2) PEARLS AND RUBIES looks to have very solid claims in the opening race at 14:30. Aidan O’Brien has an excellent record in this race, winning 4 of the last 7 runnings and this filly looks to have outstanding claims. She is very well bred out of Diamondsandrubies a group 1 winner over 1m2f, so it was even more impressive that she was able to win over the minimum trip on debut. Step up to 7f should be exactly what she wants and I’ll take 2/1. The withdrawal of Hukum looks to have made FREE WIND ’s task much easier in the Hardwicke at 16:20 and I’m actually surprised she’s not odds on at the time of writing. Her win in the Lancashire oaks last year was remarkable, she was severely hampered a furlong out losing all momentum but managed to get back up to beat Sea La Rosa. That rival went on to complete a hat-trick culminating in group 1 success at Longchamp. Free Wind’s winning return this season was fran...

  15:05 Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (3yo) Little Big Bear  is the obvious one here but the price is certainly short enough at this point. I'm going to take him on with two fillies at big prices, the first of which is  OCEAN QUEST  for the Harrington team. She was impressive when beating Aesop's Fables on her seasonal return and her subsequent 2nd to The Antarctic in a Group 3 is certainly worth of an upgrade. She raced on the wrong side of the track and I don't think it's unreasonable to conclude she was the best horse in the race that day. The third from that contest has gone on to win a Group 3 since and the way Ocean Quest finished her race last time out, this course and distance should suit. At an even bigger price I think QUEEN ME  has some claims of potentially hitting the frame. Similar to the favourite in that she ran in the Guineas looking like a non-stayer and now reverts to sprinting. She put up some smart efforts last year including a very good 2nd in...

  14:30 Norfolk Stakes 5f (Group 2) (2yo) Elite Status  is a warm order for this after a demolition job at Sandown in the National Stakes and he put up a big speed figure that day according to the stopwatch lovers, but we saw with Asadna in the Coventry that it doesn't mean he'll back it up here. The form of that Sandown win wasn't exactly boosted on Wednesday evening when the second World Of Darcy could only finish 13th in the listed Windsor Castle Stakes. One whose form has been tested is NOCHE MAGICA  for shrewd operator Paddy Twomey. I thought the way he travelled into the Marble Hill Stakes at the curragh was very taking, he was headed late on by Givemethebeatboys who ran well in the Coventry on Tuesday to finish 4th. This drop back to 5f could be ideal based on that run at the Curragh and his striking debut win, the yard has had 3 winners from their last 5 runners over the last couple of weeks so I'll have him each-way with 4 places available. Of the others, Ameri...

  A small loss of 0.3 points on day one, frustrating with a couple of seconds but little damage done to the bank. I've focused on two of the handicaps on Wednesday, making the most of the each-way concessions being offered by bookies across the board. 15:05 Kensington Palace Fillies Handicap 1m (rnd) (4yo+) Joseph O'Brien has a strong hand in this fillies handicap and the one I like is his ADELAISE  off a mark of 86. She should've won off a mark of 84 at Chelmsford when trained by Freddie and Martyn Meade when unlucky in-running in a small field event. It's fair to say the move to Joseph can be consdiered a trainer upgrade and that was evident when she ran a blinder in a valuable handicap at the Curragh at the end of May. She took well to the first time hood and had to switch markedly off a true line to make a challenge that day and looked very unlucky not to win. Given her unexposed profile over a mile I'm more than happy to back her each-way with 5 places widely a...

One of my favourite weeks of the year has arrived with Royal Ascot offering up an excellent week of top class flat racing, 35 races in total across the next 5 days so there is plenty to get stuck into. It'll be a struggle to cover all of those on this blog but I'll aim to cover most of the group one contests and any bets I'll be having in the handicaps etc. I'm also going to make the most of the Tote this week, all races are World Pool which often results in some nice overpays so I'll give some angles on that too. Day 1 is packed full of top class races where I'll likely be playing smaller stakes, waiting for some of the handicaps later in the week. 14:30 - Queene Anne Stakes 1m (Group 1) (4yo+) This race largely revolves around the top 2 in the market Inspiral  and the globetrotter Modern Games . The latter has won group 1 contests in the US, Canada, France, and most recently the UK when landing the Lockinge at Newbury. He will, however, have to concede weight ...