Gunnell is a reserve for two heats of Saturday night's NSW Bred Non-Graded Series but punters should be hoping the Ruth King-trained dog contests the Ladbrokes Multimaker Stakes.
Gunnell has drawn ideally in box one in that fourth grade event and looks the value bet of the night, while he faces a far tougher task in each of the open class NSW Bred races.
An all-the-way winner in a blistering 29.96s from box seven at Dapto on May 30, Gunnell was unlucky not to have won when finishing third at his most recent Wenty outing on May 25.
At the first turn Gunnell was a close second and seemed about to surge to the lead when he was checked by the pacemaker.
The bump cost Gunnell the race and he did well to flash home in the straight to finish third, a mere length behind the winner, Tyson Tanga.
South Coast trainer King looks set for a successful night at Wentworth Park as Blinken Billy is clearly the form runner in the opening event, the Duke's Ladbrokes Previews Stakes.
Blinken Billy has box five but if he begins cleanly he can overcome the draw as he races in the middle of the track.
Blinken Billy is the only Wentworth Park winner in the field and stormed home from third early to win over 520m at Dapto at his most recent start.
What Time Smoko registered one of the most impressive Wentworth Park wins of 2019 when he scored first-up at headquarters on May 29 in a scorching 29.76sec.
He had box one in that dazzling display and returns to town on Saturday night from box eight in the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes.
When he won on debut What Time Smoko was second to the catching pen but took control on the back straight and won by four lengths, recording "ZIPPING Bailey-like'' run home figures of 11.58.
Trainer Jeff Alaban said: "I did not expect him to go quite that fast but the win did not surprise me.
"This dog has improved immensely over the past couple of months and before he contested the Nowra Puppy Classic series in April, I trialled him at Wentworth Park and he clocked 29.78.
"My worry on Saturday night is box eight because I don't think that will suit him.
"Early in his career What Time Smoko wanted to get off the track but now he likes to go underneath his opponents.
"So, because he is not brilliant early, I'm concerned he may get caught up on the outside of the field.''
It's A Wish had box eight when she roared home from fourth early to win in a slick 29.79 at Wentworth Park on May 29 but she is better suited positioned close to the rails in box two in Saturday night's Vale Mick Player Stakes.
It's A Wish began well but gradually cut to the inside at her last start and railed powerfully to win comfortably.
The Mark Gatt-trained greyhound led throughout from an inside box to clock a sensational 29.48 at Wentworth Park on December 1.
But she is unlikely to be the pacemaker on Saturday as her rivals include noted front-runners Blueberry, Ketakey and Stella Marina.
Those greyhounds are not renowned for their strength at the end of 520m so given an interference-free passage It's A Wish should finish too strongly.
Gatt said: "There's a heap of speed in this race and so I am not expecting It's A Wish to lead at the first turn.
"I'm hoping she is holding down no worse than fourth spot at the half-way mark.
"It's A Wish only needs to use her brain and navigate her way through the field safely to be hard to beat in the run home.''
Best Bet It's A Wish (race 4)
Best Value Gunnell (race 5)
Quaddie race 5 - 1, 3
Race 6 - 6, 2, 3
Race 7 - 5, 2, 7
Race 8 - 8, 5, 2
$20 for 37.03%
