Grafton greyhounds are racing again tonight with a very strong 11-event card set down for decision.
Winners will be once again hard to find as has been the case over the last three weeks.
Last Monday looked set to be another punters disaster until the Mick and Tracey Hindmarsh trained Newcastle Brown saluted at the juicy odds of $3.90.
As I have said in previous write-ups, it's nearly impossible to base your punting on the favourites at Grafton considering just how even every race is.
In my pursuit of a best bet on tonight's program, I've settled on the Robbie Andrews-trained Kingsbrae Steve, running from box 7 in race 6, The Village Green Stakes over 305m.
Kingsbrae Steve is an ultra-consistent dog with 23 starts for five wins who should relish the drop in class for this race.
A winner over tonight’s journey in a fair 17.79, he can certainly improve on this time with a clean run to the first corner.
With quick wins at Casino in 23.34 and a fast 23.92 at Lismore, Kinsbrae Steve looks well placed to bring up his sixth career win in tonight's meeting.
Also a winner at Casino in a flying 23.34 as well as a fast 23.92 at Lismore, Kingsbrae Steve should bring up win number 6 at tonight’s meeting.
Veteran campaigner Sheza Sensation, drawn beautifully in the one box, is undoubtedly the danger to the favourite.
Despite being over 4.5 years old, Sheza Sensation has raced sparingly, notching up just 36 starts for nine victories. Over 4.5-years-old, Sheza Sensation has been very sparingly raced, only having 36 starts for
A PB of 17.86 won’t be good enough to win here tonight, but I still remember being at the big Lismore Maiden Heats two years ago when Sheza Sensation ran a flying 23.90, winning her heat that night and becoming the only maiden greyhound on the evening to break the 24-second barrier.
If Sheza Sensation can hold Kingsbrae Steve out at the corner, she may just cause the upset.
Another good race is race 7, the Ladbrokes Back Yourself Stakes over 407m.
This race looms as a showdown between the two rail runners; Jacklyn Valley from box 1 and Wheelie Wheels in box 2.
Jacklyn Valley was selected as my best bet last week in an easy 5th-grade race, only to be scratched and instead get a start from the reserves in the big Ladbrokes Final.
In that race, she drew the dreaded six box and struggled as a result, while Wheelie Wheels saluted at the juicy odds of $7 - a tip I neglected to take.
These two dogs line up again tonight side by side, and it's likely that whoever leads at the first corner should go on to claim the win.
They're both capable of running fast first sectionals around the 8.40 mark, but, my gut is telling me that Wheelie Wheels will take this one out.
Finally, punters looking for an early winner on a very tough night should look to race 3 – The Westlawn Finance Stakes over 305m, in the shape of the red runner Pink Collision trained locally by Jimmy Galloway.
Also nearly four years of age, Pink Collision has been lightly-raced with just 22 career starts. A winner over tonight’s journey from this box in a fair 17.84 Pink Collision has also won over the short distances at Albion Park in the quality times of 19.12 and 23.14 also from box 1.
If Galloway can get his honest bitch to lead tonight, I am sure she will get the job done for connections and punters. The biggest danger for Pink Collision emerges in the form of Sandler from box 3.
Sandler has also won in fair times at Albion Park over the shorts and this may be our quinella for the night.
Punters looking to get out in the last race will once again find the winner hard to pick with three good hopes in the Caldwell Electrical Stake over 407m.
I have gone for Sandave Storm drawn out in the 7 box as my pick. I think trainer Dave Ritcho will get him out a lot better this week. Other dangers include Barnacle Valley and Salute the Cloud.
It's a tough card for punters, but it sure makes for some great Grafton greyhound viewing!
* this article originally appeared in the Daily Examiner - photo credit - Robert Brandolini
