Horsebetting.com betting tips for the Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap say Sofia’s Rock is the value bet to land the historic 1m 4f contest at Ripon on Saturday, 21 July. Aasheq has been in fine form and is feared feared most, while his stable companion Appointed looks an each-way player at the odds on offers. Read our 2018 Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap betting tips preview for full details.Sofia’s ready to Rock in Ripon Bell-RingerTrainer Mark Johnston saddled Soldier In Action to win the 2016 running of the Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap, and Sofia’s Rock looks worth a bet to land him this year’s renewal of the feature 1m 4f contest at the Yorkshire venue on Saturday (16:05).
Like his stable companion, this four-year-old is a tough sort who has won four of his 20 starts and made the frame on four other occasions. The last of those successes came at Haydock, where he made all and stayed on strongly to slam Magellan by seven lengths.
Sofia’s Rock never looked in any danger and won doing handsprings. It was a dominant display and he Rock backed it up with a fine three-quarters of a length runner up to Majeed off 10lb higher at Windsor.
Things then didn’t go to plan last time out in the the Old Newton Cup at Haydock when he finished a 7 3/4 lengths seventh of 16 to stable companion Rainbow Rebel. Sofia’s Rock was forced to race wide from a poor draw and did too much too soon, which resulted him weakening late on having pressed the leaders.
In the circumstances, he shaped as if still in form and looks capable of quickly bouncing back. The yard also continue to bang in the winners and like to plunder valuable handicaps. This is also easier than the Old Newton Cup, so Sofia’s Rock looks worth a bet to defy top weight and land the spoils.Thriving Aasheq a big dangerLocal handler Tim Easterby saddles three in a bid to land back-to-back runnings. Mukhayyam, who triumphed 12 months ago, is back to try and retain his crown but Aasheq looks the pick of the trio.
The five-year-old has proved a different proposition this season since going down the handicap route, winning three of his five starts and making the frame on the two other occasions. After rattling up a hat-trick, Aasheq lost little in defeat last time out at Chester when a 1 1/2 lengths runner-up to Rainbow Rebel.
He attempted to make all and stuck to the task well when headed inside the last furlong to go down fighting. The handicapper has hit him with another 4lb rise for that effort and his revised rating of 95 is a career-high.
That is is going to make things tough, but the son of Dubawi could not be in better heart and hails from a yard in fine form. He is also 2-2 under jockey David Allen and has his ideal underfoot conditions. That makes a bold bid looks assured and he thus rates the main danger to Sofia’s Rock.Well-treated Appointed appeals each-way The other Easterby runner is Appointed – a course winner who has dropped to a dangerous mark and looks a big each-way player. This four-year-old filly was last successful at York 12 months ago when scoring by three-quarters of a length off a rating of 88.
She went on to finish third at Beverley off 91 and has also run well to make the frame in two of her last three starts. Appointed is now able to race off a reduced rating of just 84 – 4lb lower than when last victorious.
It gives her major claims from a handicapping perspective and she is also versatile as regards ground. There is lots to like about her profile for this, so at the odds on offer Appointed makes plenty of appeal and is our each-way punt.Your Next Bet
