Let's See, fastest qualifier for Friday night's Newcastle Cup at LADBROKES GARDENS, won first up over 720m at Wentworth Park in September in a slick 42.32 but is now a "better race bitch'' according to trainer Mark Davidson.
Let's See has box three in Friday's 715m Cup with Sydney Cup winner Here's Tears in box one and Stanley Road, a promising newcomer to staying ranks, in two.
Zipping Truvy, who won her heat last week in 42.08 - .05sec slower than Let's See's figures - has drawn poorly in box six.
"Let's See is not necessarily a better greyhound than when she won at Wenty in September but she handles herself much better in a field,'' Davidson said.
"Earlier in her career she often ran into the back of her rivals and found trouble, but these days she has learned to go inside or around her opponents if needed.
"I think she is well drawn in box three in the Cup final and if she comes out cleanly she should put herself into a prominent position quickly.
"It won't be an easy race to win because most of the finalists are probably capable of improving on their heat runs.
"But I was very pleased with Let's See's heat win because she was coming off wins in a couple of shorter races so I was a bit concerned, but it didn't worry her at all.''
Here's Tears made the pace in his Cup heat but raced very wide and seemed strange to the track, surprising considering the dog had plenty of LADBROKES GARDENS experience early in his career.
Caretaker trainer Chris Perry said: "Here's Tears had not seen the track for a long while and 24 hours before the race had to travel up from Melbourne.
"I think the trip may have taken a bit out of him and he should be a better dog in the final.''
Local trainer Allan Syphers won a heat of the Armidale Cup with Talk About Katie but rates his other qualifier Murphey his better chance in Thursday's 431m final at Gunnedah.
Casual Glance, who has compiled the impressive record of 13 wins from 20 starts, set the time standard in last Thursday's heats, leading throughout for a runaway win in a flying 24.74.
The Michelle Lill-trained Casual Glance came from box four in his heat so will be a long odds-on favourite after drawing box one in the final.
But Syphers, who won a heat with Talk About Katie in a nippy 24.93, believes Murphey, who was beaten just under eight lengths by Casual Glance in their heat, can cause an upset.
Murphey "walked out'' of the boxes last week and was a long last in the early stages, giving the leader around 15 lengths' start at the half-way mark.
"Murphey had box eight last week and is better off in the final in box four because he is a bit closer to the fence,'' Syphers said.
"He is very strong so if he is in touch with the leaders early he will be hard to hold off.''
Murphey has won 12 of 25 starts while Talk About Katie, who led all the way to win her heat from box two, has box five and is chasing her 16th win from 34 races.
Talk About Katie is likely to "run cover'' for her kennelmate Murphey as she galloped in the centre of the track for the entire 431m of her heat win.
"She is certainly one heck of a wide runner,'' Syphers said of Talk About Katie.
