Warren Kempshall rates Little Gesture as the best of his kennel’s eight chances at Grafton tonight, with the greyhound drawn to feature in the night’s eighth race (305m).
Trained by Warren’s wife Sonia, Little Gesture has only the two wins in 23 starts, but has been very solid over this track/distance in recent weeks finishing in the minor placings in three of his last five starts.
“I like his chances,” Kempshall said.
“He has been in the money a lot recently and has drawn near the rail where he wants to be. If I was having a punt, he’d be my top pick.”
Kempshall believes another of his kennel runners, Slender Jappa, could score an upset victory too.
Slender Jappa jumps from box six in a quality Harwood CC @CRCA Relay Stakes (407m, race two) aiming to continue his recent consistent form.
Among the opposition is Allan Lang’s Weekend Binge (box two), a half-brother to multiple Group winner Paw Licking who is unbeaten from three starts – all at Wauchope.
Slender Jappa had placed three consecutive times prior to falling at his last start at Grafton earlier this month is primed for his return to racing.
“I think he can challenge," Kempshall said. “He had no side effects from his fall and looks ready to go again.
“The box isn’t an issue (as) he has really good burn. He can come out average but then really fly.
“Weekend Binge will be hard to beat and looks a good greyhound. I believe he has seen this track as well, but I certainly believe Slender Jappa will be in the race.”
In other action at Grafton tonight, debutant Nangar Thunder (box three) looks a good bet to score a win in race four over the 407m.
The DAVE Irwin-trained greyhound caught the eye with a nice trial at Lismore last month in which he covered the 420m in 24.17.
Meanwhile, Rival Glen has scored three wins from his first five starts and looks ideally drawn to take out the Tamworth to Grafton Sprint Final (race one, 305m).
He was comfortably the fastest qualifier in last week’s heats and won his only previous start wearing the red rug.
For Grafton Monday fields and form, click here.
