Spring Parade can score a win for youth over experience in tonight’s 5th grade Ladbrokes Cash In Final (race seven, 407m) at Grafton.
The Ken Staines-trained greyhound jumps from box one in the decider having scored a sound 23.26 victory in last week’s heats at the Northern Rivers track.
That victory from box two extended the son of Spring Gun and Neala’s Joy’s career record to three wins and three minor placings in seven starts so far, including a smart 23.13 triumph over this trip in December.
He faces a tricky field here with some battle-hardened opponents, including consistent local David Lyndan (box two), but Staines believes his greyhound can win again tonight.
“Box one will be an advantage, but only if he makes it so,” Staines said.
“If he doesn’t come out well, he’ll hit trouble at the first corner.
“He didn’t come out great last week, but he really mustered pace and got the job done. He can certainly improve time-wise on that effort as well.
“He’s only young and lacks that race experience, but when he gets it right he certainly shows good speed.
“Is he worth betting on? You could do a lot worse.”
Spring Parade had a two-month spell after finishing fourth at Casino in early January but he has returned well, placing over the 420m at Lismore earlier this month before winning at Grafton last week.
David Lyndan has scored four consecutive placings and can improve on his run from last week in which he finished second, so looks the big danger.
The leading chance is Palazzzo (box four), who is from the gun local kennel of Sonia Kempshall and qualified fastest last week in 23.00 from the same draw.
In other Grafton action this evening, Gunner Succeed (box five) has a good record at Grafton and can score a win in race five over the 305m.
The son of Spring Gun and Babe Watch has won twice and placed three times in five previous visits to Grafton and should appreciate the drop back in distance after racing recently over the 400m.
Senor Wolf (box eight) looks another promising newcomer and can triumph in the night’s other feature race, the Willow Park Pre-Training 1-3 Wins (race six, 305m).
From the astute Hunter Valley kennel of Dave Richardson, Senor Wolf scored a smart 17.73 win in last week’s heats and looks to have the early pace to handle the wide draw.
Box one specialist Aristotle looks capable of winning yet again from his favourite draw in race 10 over the 480m.
The Sonia Kempshall-trained greyhound has won nine of his previous 10 starts wearing the red rug and is racing well, placing in a decent 484m at Casino on his last start.
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