The Student Punter

  17:20 Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase A lot of my week revolves around the running of MIDNIGHT OUR FRED  in the Kim Muir. I’ve had him in mind for this for a while and was delighted to see the UK handicapper only nudge him up 1lb. He bolted up at Gowran Park in October then followed that up with a huge run at Leopardstown over Christmas when 2nd to Perceval Legallois (one I like for the Grand national). That Leopardstown run is worthy of an upgrade as he disputed the lead throughout with Three Card Brag and while that rival folded to be beaten over lengths in 7th, Fred kept on well to finish an excellent 2nd. Three Card Brag went on to win next time at Navan, while another prominent racer from Leopardstown, Nick Rockett (4th) won the Thyestes on his next start and followed up at Fairyhouse in a Grade 3 next time out. There’s also the fact he has form round Cheltenham, running an excellent 2nd of 19 in October 2023 and then running 2nd again over 3m4f h...

  14:40 - Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle 2m4f Dan Skelton is always one to keep a close eye on in these festival handicap hurdles and he looks to have teed up another great chance in BE AWARE . It’s not rocket science picking him out and even though he’s close to the top of the market I still make him a bet with the extra places available. He was 2nd to Burdett Road in at the Greatwood off 130 and given that rival is now rated 17lb higher (potentially more after his fortunate Champion Hurdle second on day one) he has to have a huge chance off 137 here. You can put a line through his effort last time out and he has obviously been saved for this. SANDOR CLEGANE  was one of the Irish runner fortunate enough to get away without the usual handicapper ‘tax’ for crossing the Irish Sea and I think he could be up to taking advantage of that. It would probably be unfair to say his chasing career was a complete failure, because he was mixing it in some tough races (including a 4th behind Fact...

  The best week in the racing calendar is here again and for all it’s a cracking day’s racing, these probably won’t be my strongest bets of the week. The 4-fold of Kopek Des Bordes , Majborough , Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill will be very popular with punters (pays 7/1+). But as usual most of my selections will be in the big handicaps on the card. Best of luck with your bets for day one. 13:20 - Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m 1/2f I was lucky enough to be at the Dublin Racing Festival last month to see Kopek Des Bordes  absolutely demolish his opposition. I’m sitting on an ante-post position on him so it’s unlikely I’ll go in again (although the evens as I type is getting tempting). The worry for him would be if he handles the occasion, he was in and out of the parade ring very quickly at Leopardstown (presumably in an attempt to keep a lid on him) but he still won despite racing freely.  Workahead ’s win at at Leopardstown over Christmas was franked when the seven leng...