16th Aug 2016 | Horse Racing
Ripon Tips: Assisted
Didn’t handle soft ground on debut for Keith Dalgleish but new trainer should improve him and showed ability on the AW.
The 2.30 Ripon is a bad race; it even features a horse rated 28 therefore anything with even a hint of ability warrants interest.
Assisted was sent off the 5/2 favourite on his first start for Keith Dalgleish but had excuses when he was well beaten at Ayr. It was his first start in 6 months and the soft ground might not have been to his liking.
Before that reversal he’d run quite well, earning an adjusted speed rating of 67 when a good fourth behind Telegram at Lingfield.
Unfortunately, an opening handicap mark of 66 means he must race in class 5 handicaps, therefore a drop into selling company makes sense. As a 3-year-old he gets a useful weight allowance and Keith Dalgleish uses these races well, enjoying a 25% strike rate (13-51) in sellers.
The official going description is ‘good’ and although he is yet to prove himself on turf, the ability is there to win this race.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 07:37 16th Aug, 2016 but subject to change
