5:40 – Leicester – STEWARDS HANDICAP (DIV II) (CLASS 5) (3yo+ 0-75) Good To Soft, Good to Soft in places 1m1f218y
The Lock Master is having his most successful season to date and has a number of factors in his favour this afternoon. However, the 5 year old bay gelding has never won or been placed after a break and therefore backers need to take this into consideration before placing a bet as he has not run for 53 days.
The Lock Master has had a busy season as he has already run 21 times since 3rd January. However, he looks to have taken to his busy schedule well as he has won 3 times and been placed 8 times so far this year. His three wins have come over 1 mile, 1 mile 2 furlongs and 1 mile 4 furlongs. He runs over 1 mile 2 furlongs this afternoon and his overall record over the trip is one win and four placed efforts from 11 runs.
The going is Good to Soft, Soft in places which will be in The Lock Master’s favour as he has won once and been placed twice in five starts in Good to Soft ground and been placed twice in Soft going from three runs.
He is being ridden by Tom Queally and Tom has ridden his once before at Leicester when the pair finished 2nd over today’s trip back in June. Horses ridden by Queally for Micheal Appleby who trains The Lock Master are worth a second look as in 2012 Tom has ridden 3 winners from 10 rides for the Nottinghamshire based trainer.
In an open race in which decent cases can be made for over half the field The Lock Master looks decent each way value at current odds of 13/2. He does have to overcome a break, but he has won in October before and he does have trip and ground conditions in his favour along with a jockey who has a decent record riding for the yard.
