led at fast pace, mistake and stumbled and headed 5th, weakened after 8th
held up, headway to chase winner 8th, lost 2nd next, weakened 3 out, 3rd and beaten when blundered 2 out
held up, jumped right 3rd, behind when blundered and unseated rider 7th
held up, pushed along 6th, weakened next, tailed off approaching 4 out
with leader, mistake 4th, led next, clear 7th, easily
held up, headway approaching 8th, chased winner 4 out, 6 lengths down and one pace when hit 2 out, soon ridden and no impression
Locksmith gets the confident vote in this novices' chase with Pak Jack and Colliers Court the best of the remainder. The selection was very disappointing last time but he should be suited by this drop in trip and if he could reproduce his previous effort when beating Sleep Bal at Plumpton then he would be very difficult to beat. Pak Jak rates the main danger as he won last time when beating stable-mate Made In Japan. However, Made In Japan was never going that day which makes the form of that run difficult to assess in what was otherwise a fairly ordinary race. Colliers Court also finished in front of Made in Japan in that race but he was well beaten, and although he is better off at the weights with Pak Jak, it is difficult to see him turning the tables. Town Crier won well last time on the soft at Newcastle when beating Alam, and he will be more suited by this firmer surface, so he is another to calculations. However, we will return to Locksmith as our idea of the winner.
