Another huge evening of Thursday greyhound action takes us to Sandown Park.
It’s a bumper 12-race card as our greyhound experts sift their way through the program to find the best best and value.
Sandown Park Race 2
#2 Merlot
Merlot has not had much in his last two runs.
This race shapes as a more favourable event with box two assisting him in finding the rail early and taking the shortest way possible home.
The perfect factor for him here is that there does not look to be a lot of early speed drawn to his outside, so he can score up and find the front, which is something he has been unable to do in the last month of racing.
Should have all the momentum to show his best in this race and looks a nice bet at the $4.6.
Will be drinking a few glasses of Merlot should he get the chocolates!
Suggested Bet: Merlot win at $4.6
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 2/ 1, 4, 7/ 1, 4, 7
Sandown park race 5
#2 Kenny The Brute
Much like our pick in race two, Kenny The Brute has been brutally unlucky of late.
He got flattened as a $2.10 favourite over 715 metres last start and did not finish the race off.
Have to be forgiving of him and we will take into account how hard in the market he was in a race with similar talent against him.
Box two actually sets up okay for him with the dog drawn his inside being a fast beginning, which will allow him to muster up and follow the leader into the race.
A lot of the time, these distance races usually break apart leaving room for the gun chasers to work through their gears and Kenny the Brute should find himself in that situation.
Suggested Bet: Kenny The Brute win at $3.5
Sandown Park Race 6
#6 Amnesty
Amnesty has been on the drift since the markets opened and represents great value at the current quote of $3.
His advantage over this field is his breathtaking early speed, which he showed last start when bolting in by 10 lengths after leading all the way with consummate ease.
His man rival, Plan Ahead, lacks the early speed our pick does and will need to make up at least four or five lengths on him if the race plays out as predicted.
Expect Amnesty to firm later in betting and head back into favourite.
Price differential between him and Plan Ahead looks over played.
Suggested Bet: Amnesty win at $3
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 1 & 3
Sandown Park Race 8
#3 Dr Tucker
Absolutely launching into Dr Tucker who has been in slashing form at all four runs back from a spell.
He was a bit unlucky behind freak chaser and eventual Bendigo Cup winner Paua of Buddy, but love the way he mustered up and kept chasing and hunting the finish line.
Box three is a great scenario for him in this race with the two dogs drawn inside of him, one being his main threat, lacking the early speed he does when given the space to stride.
Genuinely have no idea how they beat him if he gets clear running here.
Trainer William McMahon might just have very well pinched this race before it has run.
Suggested Bet: Dr Tucker win at $2.25
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 3/ 2/ 4, 8
Sandown Park Race 9
#5 Green Blazer
Green Blazer backs up after being beaten as an even-money favourite on a very wet tracks at the Meadows last weekend.
Not sure if he handled getting his paws too deep into the surface there and he should be much better off on a firm Sandown Park track.
The race sets up for him to follow the dog drawn in box one who will fly out but fadeaway in the middle stages.
That is where Green Blazer’s superior stamina will kick in and he can take over in the back straight.
Will need a tad of luck from the box, but happy to play at the price.
Suggested Bet: Green Blazer win at $4
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 1, 3, 5
