Grand Prix Dryva will face the toughest test of his brief career to date when he lines up in a competitive free-for-all race at Grafton tonight.
Trained by Andrew Monaghan in Dyraaba on the outskirts of Casino, Grand Prix Dryva jumps from box eight in race 10 (407m) aiming for a sixth straight victory.
Grand Prix Dryva has already won at four different tracks and has built the impressive record of eight wins and three minor placings from 13 starts.
He has won twice over this distance, including an impressive 22.80 victory last month, and has already made a big impression on his trainer.
“He’s certainly got ability,” Monaghan said.
“My only concern is the late race. He’s an excitable greyhound – he can’t wait to get on the track and barks and barks when he gets to the kennels.
“That could be his downfall as he can’t be below his best against a field of this quality. He is a determined chaser (though) and going great so he’s in with a chance.”
Grand Prix Dryva will have to be at his best tonight as he faces a quality field which includes Little Nangar (box three), who is a Wentworth Park winner and is a greyhound picking up form again after a three-month break.
Two Jay (box one) is another contender having scored back-to-back victories over the 480m at Grafton recently.
“Every greyhound here is capable of breaking 23 seconds,” Monaghan said. “It’s a very good field.
“The box won’t worry him and he likes a bit of room. While he’s not a good beginner, he’s got good pace and will go straight from this draw.
“I’ll probably step him back up to the 500 metres after this and he should go through the grades well.”
In other action at Grafton tonight, consistent greyhound Whistler Valley looks the best bet in the second of four heats of the Ladbrokes Red Dog Series (race seven, 407m).
Velvet Teddybear has produced some good performances at Grafton so far in his career and looks the best bet in the night’s ninth race (407m).
The Reg Gardoll-trained greyhound has scored three wins and three minor placings in seven previous visits to the track and won from the same box over this trip last month.
Last start Wentworth Park winner Marilena Franco looks the one to beat jumping from box two in race 11 (407m).
The Darryl Chapman-trained greyhound defeated a quality field over the 520m at headquarters last Saturday and five of her nine career victories so far have come at Grafton.
For Grafton fields, form and expert picks, click here.
