Christopher Riordon has happy memories of the Group 3 Angliss Meats Townsville Cup (498m) and he believes Mpingo can score him the $25,000 top prize this year.
The consistent greyhound, who produced another impressive run last start to finish second behind the mighty Keybow in the Queensland Sprint Final (520m), jumps from box seven in the fifth of six heats on Tuesday night.
Mpingo has been very solid recently, scoring two wins and three minor placings in his last five outings.
Owner-trainer Riordon, who scored a win in the 2013 series with Spirited Flame, thinks his greyhound is drawn well here.
“Box seven should suit him,” Riordon said. “He likes a bit of room to move.
“You worry about corner starts if they haven’t seen them before but I’m banking on the track suiting him.
“After his last run I thought I’d give him a crack at this.
“You can’t get over-confident but I think he’s got a big chance.”
Mpingo’s recent good form has extended his record to nine wins and 12 minor placings from 28 starts.
His impressive 2015 includes finishing second in the Young Guns decider at Albion Park behind boom newcomer Pop the CORK and two terrific wins at Ipswich over fields including classy pair Fabulous Storm and Whata Nice Size.
The son of Vapour Whirl and Uno Minni Lee has now earned more than $40,000 in prizemoney and looks a decent chance here.
“He’s put in a good run for me virtually every time,” Bribie Island-based Riordon said.
“He’s a bit slow early to be a really top greyhound but his last 20 metres are usually his best.
“It was my first Group race win up there. It holds good memories for me.
“They love their cup up there and the final is a really big night. It would be nice to be part of it again.”
Kidatee Croc (box eight) has been a notable Queensland performer over the last 18 months and looks the pick in heat one.
Flash Reality is the class act of the series and in current form should take out the second heat from box seven.
Last year’s Group 2 Lismore Cup winner Yogi Blue (box eight) has been racing superbly at Townsville over the last month and looks the best in heat three.
Post Box has a phenomenal record from the inside and looks a good chance win heat four from box two.
Hopping Houdini (box three) is debuting at Townsville but has been running excellently at Ipswich recently, so is a great chance to win heat six.
The final is next Tuesday.
For the Group 3 Angliss Meats Townsville Cup fields and form, click here.
