Gnarley Girl will look to bounce back from a rare defeat in the fourth heat of the 5th grade Ladbrokes Since 1886 Sprint Series (race six, 420m) at Labrokes Park Lismore on Tuesday night.
The greyhound will jump from box one in her heat aiming for a fourth win from her last five starts.
Gnarley Girl, who is temporarily in the kennels of Northern Rivers trainer Marilyn Johnson while mentor Jan Warner is on holiday, could only finish seventh at her first look at Casino on Friday, which ended a run of three consecutive wins prior to that.
“Casino was a bit of an unknown for her and really that was about giving her a run,” Johnson said.
“She’s pulled up fine and is looking good. She’s a wonderful greyhound and usually quick out of the boxes, so should be well suited by the draw tonight.
“She’s been racing very well and if she does everything right then she’s got as decent chance.”
Gnarley Girl placed on her only previous start from box one but loves inside draws, with three wins from three starts from box two to her name.
She has run some sound races at Queensland tracks and looks the standout chance in a field lacking much race experience.
Johnson also believes her greyhound Obin Tommy (box four) is shaping as a decent each-way chance in the first heat of the series (race two, 420m).
Obin Tommy has won two of his last five starts and triumphed from this box over the 395m at Albion Park last month.
“He’s had box four more than any other alley in his career so he’s used to awkward draws,” Johnson said.
“He didn’t seem to like Lismore until recently but he’s been trialling well there recently and is racing consistently enough.”
In other Lismore action on Tuesday night, Bogie Comet looks one of the meeting’s best bets jumping from box two in the Ladbrokes Park Lismore GBOTA Maiden (race one, 420m).
The Keith Boan-trained greyhound has placed in five of his last six starts – all over the 431m at Ipswich – and looks well drawn to claim his elusive first win.
Queensland trainer Darren Russell won last week’s Lismore Workers Club cup with Tripum and can score another win with Master Lagoon (box seven) in the third heat of the series (race five).
Master Lagoon has built the solid record of 10 wins and 12 minor placings from 38 starts and is currently racing well, scoring two wins two minor placings in his last five starts.
Price Rise can mark her 100th start with victory in the Bugs Excavator and Bobcat Hire Stakes (race 10, 420m).
The Sonia Kempshall-trained greyhound has recorded 19 wins and 37 placings in her 99 starts and won over the 484m at Casino three starts back.
She is ideally positioned in the rails draw, having win six times and placed five times in 13 previous races wearing the red rug.
For Ladbrokes Park Lismore Tuesday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
