Ailsa Craig is potentially thrown-in at the weights on the pick of her form in the 2.30 at Ripon today and at 5/1 rates the best bet on the card.
The mare looked sure to win more races last year when a solid second of 16 to Tres Coronas at Newcastle off a mark of 73, but she failed to build on that effort and subsequently failed to get her head in front.
She had a number of niggling injury problems throughout that campaign, and it’s fair to say that her yard were under a bit of a cloud. However they are now back amongst the winners, and she now gets into this contest off a career-low mark of just 58.
That means that Edwin Tuer’s charge is a massive 17lb lower than when registering her last success in a class 4 contest at Beverley back in August 2011 and gives her outstanding claims at the weights in this class 5 contest.
The seven-year-old does have to bounce back from a disappointing run last time out at Pontefract, but she had previously run a cracker on her seasonal reappearance when a 1 length third of 11 to Apache Glory at Beverley and is definitely worth another chance to prove her latest effort was all wrong.
This contest also lacks any real strength in depth and looks the best opening she has had for some time and with James Sullivan in the saddle she is strongly fancied to score for the Ontoawinner syndicate.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win Ailsa Craig (5/1 generally available – use BOG firms)