Smooth Blend blitzed a free-for-all line-up at his most recent Wentworth Park outing so with an ideal draw he looks set to take out Saturday night's easier fourth grade Ladbrokes Multimaker Stakes at headquarters.
The Denice Warren-trained greyhound (pictured), who tends to run in the centre of the track, is perfectly boxed in eight and has won four races at Wentworth Park, more than any of his rivals on Saturday.
Smooth Blend's personal best Wenty 520m time of 29.68sec is two tenths of a second - equivalent to three lengths - faster than that of his nearest opponent Stilton Stitch, who has recorded 29.88sec on the Glebe circuit.
Best value bet on Saturday should be Esther's Bella, who has finally drawn box one after experiencing a succession of unsuitable wide alleys.
Esther's Bella registered her sole Wentworth Park win after exiting box one on October 24 but has not drawn closer than box five in her past five starts.
She had box five when third to Cyril Figgis and King Panda, both noted strong finishers, in a Wentworth Park fourth grade on December 12 and drops in class to fifth grade in Saturday's Berowra CC Grand Slam Stakes.
Esther's Bella was a certainty beaten at Gosford on Tuesday, when she finished third over 515m from box six after being skittled at the first turn.
Trainer Peter Mattress said: "At Gosford another dog ran off the track at the first turn and took Esther's Bella out of the race.
"She has been stuck in wide boxes for so long it is a relief to see her finally draw the rails, where she likes to be.
"Esther's Bella retains her early pace but she has got a lot stronger in recent weeks.''
Trainer Kerry Drynan believes a change in training regimen is the reason for her dog Friend Of Man's remarkable surge in form.
A four year old veteran, Friend Of Man, who has box seven in Saturday's Ladbrokes Info Hub Masters Stakes, has scored seven wins and four seconds from his past dozen starts.
"He is going terrific and led all the way again at Gosford on Tuesday night,'' Drynan said.
"Friend Of Man has never raced better and all I can put it down to is that I have reduced the number of trials he gets and restrict him mainly to hand-slipping on our track at home.
"Box seven should suit him on Saturday providing he begins cleanly.
"Friend Of Man is inclined to get very wide when he gets caught up in traffic but if he is out in front he handles the track much better.''
Dynamo's Double is another greyhound who should appreciate a drop in class at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
The Bev Wood-trained greyhound has box three in the 520m Ladbrokes Cash Out Stakes, a 520m fourth and fifth grade.
Two starts back Dynamo's Double stormed home to defeat Modus Operandi in a heat of the top grade Ladbrokes Christmas Gift and that greyhound proved the form by winning the final a week later.
Dynamo's Double finished fifth in that race but will find Saturday's assignment far easier and looks well positioned in box three.
She has won three of her four races while carrying the white rug.
"I intend stepping her up to races longer than Saturday's 520m but she has not had enough work yet to tackle middle distances,'' Wood said.
The smaller than usual line-up of seven favours Dynamo's Double, who tends to get back in the field in the early stages of her races.
Best Bet Smooth Blend (race 3)
Best Value Esther's Bella (race 6)
Quaddie race 5 - 6, 1, 4
Race 6 - 1, 2, 8
Race 7 - 3, 2, 4
Race 8 - 7, 1
$20 for 37.03%
