Goulburn record holder Mellcat Big Boy was a warm favourite but found trouble when unplaced at his Wentworth Park debut last Wednesday and should only need a clear run from the boxes to make amends in Tonight's Congratulations Pay Call Stakes at headquarters.
Andy Lord, whose wife Jodie trains Mellcat Big Boy, said: "We expected him to win last week because he had trialled 29.70 for the 520m at Wenty, outstanding time for a fifth grader.
"He was checked at the first turn but I was a bit disappointed with his run so will be hoping he can run up to his fast trial in this week's race.''
The Lords are professional trainers who are reluctant to make excuses for their greyhounds but might be judging Mellcat Big Boy too harshly.
Last Wednesday the dog was slowly away from box eight but showed good speed down the outside before getting caught outside the wide running Simply Spot, who had drawn six, on the first bend.
The two dogs collided heavily and both had their chances ruined.
Tonight Simply Spot is well positioned out in box seven but Mellcat Big Boy should only need to jump cleanly from box four to be in front at the first turn.
Ritza Tommy has not raced in four months but is going well enough to win "first up'' Tonight according to trainer Mark Gatt.
Ritza Tommy has box three in the 520m Brook Group Stakes and will be chasing his third win in four starts while wearing the white rug.
"He split the webbing on a foot in January and because he had not had a decent break since he was being educated, I decided to throw him into the paddock and give him plenty of time off,'' Gatt said.
"Ritza Tommy has come back really well and in a post-to-post slip last week at Wenty he recorded 24 seconds flat, which is very quick.
"I think he is drawn okay because Tick Warrior, who has box one, goes fast early and uses a bit of the track so I'm banking on Ritza Tommy getting a nice run along the fence at the first turn.
"My only worry is that Ritza Tommy is not the most reliable greyhound I have trained, sometimes I think there are two of him.''
SANDY GRANT has been runner-up in each of three Wentworth Park 720m starts and gets his chance from box eight in Tonight's Ladbroke It Stakes.
Trained by Canowindra electrician David Grant, SANDY GRANT drew box five and came from fourth early to finish, second, beaten a half length, by Zipping Niseko in last Saturday night's group 3 Wentworth Park Gold Cup final.
SANDY GRANT drops to fifth grade company Tonight and has shown he can handle the outside alley, finishing second from box eight over 520m at Bathurst on April 5 and chasing home Prim And Proper in a Wentworth Park Gold Cup heat on May 1 while sporting the pink jacket.
Although SANDY GRANT is down in grade he will need to repeat his Gold Cup final performance as My Margarita (box one), kennelmate Stormy Grant (five) and Line Of Quality (six) have good form.
The ideally drawn My Margarita has won two of her four Wentworth Park 720m races, Stormy Grant disappointed when sixth at Wentworth Park on May 1 but has also won twice over the 720m trip, and Line Of Quality had a win and a fast finishing second in middle distance events last month.
Tonight's best bet could be the consistent Aston Barak, who has been placed in two from three WP outings and looks well placed in box two in the GBOTA Welcome Maiden Stakes.
Last Wednesday Aston Barak was a heavily backed $1.75 favourite on the strength of a reported brilliant 520m trial at Dapto, and the dog flashed home out wide to go under by a head.
Although Aston Barak got off the track last Wednesday, he seems suited Tonight as Little Whitey, box one, is a fast beginner who rails well, while box three is vacant.
