We return to Sandown Park for the standard Thursday night meeting under lights and then it’s over Dapto in NSW for their 12-race card.
We’re set for another great night of greyhound racing to lead us into the weekend.
Let’s spring those lids and hunt down some Thursday night winners!
Sandown Park Race 2
#1 Fractured
Resumed after a 64-day spell last start and he did not have much luck when running fifth, beaten seven lengths by Shima Classic.
He should be better off for having that run and now that he is back in the groove of racing hopefully he can jump cleanly from box one.
His Sandown record is impeccable with three track and distance wins from four starts and one win from one start when jumping with the red rug.
A return to somewhere near his personal best time of 29.25 for the 515 metres, which he produced on January 7, would have him going very close to winning this.
The favourite Aston Fastnet was not away as quickly as he usually is from the boxes last start and if he repeats that then Fractured will be the winner.
Suggested Bet: Fractured win at $3.3
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 1 & 3
sandown park race 5
#4 Riccarton Rick
Riccarton Rick looked like he had a Boeing engine strapped to his back when winning by five lengths at the Sandown 515-metre start.
He pinged the lids like a rocket and the only thing he saw in front of him was the bunny he was chasing.
The winning time of 29.27 was a personal best and he looks as though he is only improving. Any improvement on that time will see him winning this easily.
His main danger in betting, Hadouken, got the job done for us last start but he did miss the start. Doing that against a dog the calibre of Riccarton Rick will be hard to recover from.
Settling with the dog who is jumping fast, burning early and going all the way.
Riccarton Rick is that dog and he looks the best of the night at Sandown.
Suggested Bet: Riccarton Rick win at $2.15
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 4/ 1, 3, 7/ 1, 3, 7
Sandown Race 6
#2 earn the answers
Going against the Gypsy Yankee and Aston Rupee form line and siding with Earn the Answers who was brave in defeat last week.
He had circumstances against him last week when he jumped quickly but was just unable to cross and did a good job to hand on for third.
Trainer Lyn Smith had nearly given him a month off prior to that run and now, on the week back up, he can race somewhere near his optimum level.
If he can return to his 29.26 515-metre run at Sandown on January 24, then he is a massive shout to knock off the top two elects in the market.
Can back him each-way in this race. Expecting a bold showing from him here and do not think he can miss a place at the very worst.
Suggested Bet: Earn the Answers each-way at $5 the win and $1.65 the place
Suggested Exotic: Boxed First Four – 2, 3, 4, 8
sandown park race 7
#1 Silken
The most talented dogs in this race are clearly Kuro Kismet and Shima Classic but Silken, who is drawn in box one, looks great value.
Has had nothing go his way the last three starts having drawn wide boxes and being unable to cross and find the rails.
What looks to be in his favour here is the dogs outside of him should clear out in the early part of the race and that will afford a hassle free run on the rails.
The last time he drew an inside box at Sandown it was over the 595-metre start and he demolished the opposition.
The 515 metres might be a little bit short of his best distance, but he will be launching home late in the race.
If the two favourites chop each other up, he will be the one flashing over the top.
Big price for a dog who is two wins from two starts when jumping from box one.
Suggested Bet: Silken each-way at $9 the win and $1.75 the place
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 1, 4/ 1, 4/ 7
Dapto Race 5
#7 Moment of bliss
A winner of four from her last five starts, Moment of Bliss has been a model of consistency throughout her 12-race career and comes into this one with six wins and three minor placings to her name.
The positive for her in this race is her ability to jump cleanly and run to the lead early in her races.
Her trainer Peter Sims has been building her up to run a strong 600-metre race in a competitive field like she faces here and her timing seems to right on the money.
A 33.03 win over 570 metres at Temora last start looks good enough to trouble a fair few of the dogs in this race.
She has drawn box seven and with her early speed it be enough to her clear out from her main rivals who will be dashing home late in the race.
Just hoping she has pinched enough of a break in the early and middle stages of the race to hold on for victory.
Suggested Bet: Moment of Bliss win at $3.6
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 1, 7/ 1, 7/ 3, 6
Dapto Race 12
#8 Dance With Izzy
Dance With Izzy was put away to have a well earned break after making the progression to city grade in her first preparation.
She returns here after 159 days away from the races and looks ready to run a huge race first-up.
A liking for box eight is a big tick having won her only start when donning the pink rug.
What bodes well for her in this race is Pablo Mouse – who has drawn next door – possessing very sharp early speed and a willingness to race on the rails.
Pablo Mouse should be able to give our pick a nice cart across from the wide draw.
Dance With Izzy has credits in the bank at Dapto as well.
She has raced at the Dapto 520-metre start four times for three wins and boasts a 29.71 win in July 2020.
If she produces something akin to that run, then they will be chasing her tail.
Suggested Bet: Dancy With Izzy each-way at $6 the win and $2.6 the place (No Third Dividend)
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 7, 8/ 7, 8/ 4
