Nando Banner To Make Amends

By Jeff Collerson
Nando Banner was a certainty beaten when second from box six at Wentworth Park last Wednesday and has the perfect draw to make amends at headquarters this Wednesday night.

The Barry Gibbons-trained youngster will exit box one in race four, a 520m fifth grade, and looks set to get the run of the race.

Tommy Kade, who followed two impressive Wentworth Park wins with a somewhat disappointing second there on Saturday night, has box two and being a wide runner he should ensure Nando Banner gets a clear run to the crucial first turn.

Last Wednesday Nando Banner drew box six and was checked at the start when the greyhounds on his outside veered left.

Nando Banner was then badly hampered trying to reach the rails as he went through the first corner and came from midfield on the back straight to finish second, one-and-a-half lengths behind the winner, Always Done.

Another greyhound likely to make full use of box one on Wednesday is Belmont Bullet, who will wear the red rug in race six, a 520m fourth and fifth grade.

Last Wednesday night Belmont Bullet was surprisingly sent out a $2.90 favourite despite being unsuitably drawn in box eight.

Belmont Bullet was knocked out of contention going through the catching pen and finished fifth while his kennelmate, Hurricane's Fury, who had drawn ideally in box one, led all the way.

"Box one suits Belmont Bullet and if he begins cleanly he should be hard to beat,'' trainer Joe McFadyen said.

"Belmont Bullet can be his own worst enemy at times because he is a very nervy dog, he can get too excited at the races.

"Most dogs need stirring up at the track but he is the opposite, he needs to be kept calm.

"He also doesn't like strangers, he hates being touched by just about anyone except my partner Kat Ernst, which is why she Always handles him on race night.''

Hold Me Up has won five races at Wentworth Park and has clocked 29.67 at Wentworth Park but he has not produced many better performances than his second behind Mortified in a flying 29.60 at Wentworth Park last Saturday night.

Hold Me Up had box eight and after being hampered crossing to the rails was a distant fourth on the back straight before rattling home to be beaten five lengths.

"He certainly wasn't suited by box eight but box five in Wednesday night's Free-For-All is only slightly better because he goes left when he jumps,'' trainer Joe Comito said.

"So he has to come out quick to have a good chance.''

Nangar Rocket was a good second to Tania Keeping in near record time over 600m at LADBROKES GARDENS on Saturday night and has pulled up well in readiness for Wednesday's fifth race at Wentworth Park, a 520m fifth grade.

"I don't usually back my dogs up like this but Nangar Rocket is ready to go,'' trainer Dennis Barnes said.

"He is a slow beginner but is very strong and he seems to have a knack of being able to avoid trouble during his races.''

Nangar Rocket has box three and could get a nice "trail" to the first turn courtesy of Renegade Paul, who has drawn two.

Renegade Paul's trainer Brian Tame said: "He has a great chance of being the pacemaker from this good draw but he is a bit weak at the end of 520m.''

Renegade Paul has been runner-up in three of six Wentworth Park 520m tests.

Best Bet Nando Banner (race 4)
Best Value Belmont Bullet (race 6)
Quaddie 
Race 5 - 3, 7, 2
Race 6 - 1, 6, 3
Race 7 - 5, 4, 7
Race 8 - 6, 4
$20 for 37.03%