Kennelmates Kidatee Dan and Kidatee Dylan look strong chances to seal a winning double for trainer Gary Smith at Grafton tonight.
In-form Kidatee Dan jumps from box four in the Ladbrokes Best 8 Stakes (race eight, 610m) aiming for a fourth consecutive victory.
The son of Fear Zafonic and Orara Lass is having his first look at Grafton since December but has been brilliant at other Northern Rivers tracks recently, scoring wins over the 620m at Casino and the 635m at Lismore.
Kidatee Dan has the impressive record of seven wins from 12 starts wearing the blue rug and with five wins from seven previous races over this trip looks like taking some beating tonight.
“It’s all about how he jumps,” Coutts Crossing-based trainer Smith said. “Last week he jumped well, but the week before he got left behind.
“If he can get himself in a good position early – in the first three – then he can kick on from there.
“He’s always been a consistent greyhound (and) the distance is no worry as he keeps going all day.
“I’m a little concerned about the box draw as he’s a mad railer, but as long as he’s in one to four he’s usually okay.”
Kidatee Dan looks to be the clear best chance, although In The Bazza (box eight) is another consistent performer and has placed over the 635m at Casino on his last two starts.
Smith also rates Kidatee Dylan as a decent chance jumping from box one in the night’s third race over the 407m.
This will be Kidatee Dylan’s first start in almost a month after he fell at Grafton on March 6 but he has built the sound record of four wins and four minor placings from 15 starts and has clocked a decent 23.32 for this trip.
He has won twice over the 305m at Grafton and also placed twice over this trip too.
“He was very unlucky on his last start as he was beginning to make his move,” Smith said.
“I’ve given him a couple of trials and he’s been going okay. The draw should really help him too.”
Last start winner Forgotten Valley looks a big danger in box two, while Hidden Sniper (box three) clocked a smart 23.10 over this distance in January and saluted last week too.
In other Grafton Monday action, War At Midnight (box eight) can return to winning ways with victory in the night’s second race over the 305m.
The Reg Gardoll-trained sprinter has won three out of four starts over the 305m and is unbeaten in two starts wearing the pink rug.
Allonsy Fire (box seven) is having his first look at Grafton in the night’s race 11 over the 407m but is a handy newcomer and looks capable of saluting.
The John James-trained greyhound has won two of his four starts so far - over the 400m at the Gardens and Gosford – and with a clear run should be too good for these.
For Grafton Monday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
