Grenfell cherry-picks best chances


Tonight’s race meeting at Sandown Park will be under unfamiliar daylight with the first race set to jump at 3.47pm due to Melbourne’s curfew.

It’s a solid program with the highlight clearly being the Free-For-All (Race 7, 5.57pm) which features some of the sport’s stars headlined by Tiggerlong Tonk and Aston Rupee.

Tonk’s trainer Correy Grenfell joined Gareth Hall on RSN Central’s Form Express this morning to discuss his chances.

“He had a pretty long let up and he doesn’t normally have that sort of break but on last week’s run he’s close to his best form. If he jumps well he’ll give the race a shake. Aston Rupee is a class dog on the rise, it’ll be a good contest,” said Grenfell.

Hall followed up by asking Grenfell how long we can expect Tiggerlong Tonk’s career to go on for.

“It’d be a dream come true to get him to the Melbourne Cup a second time and give it another crack. We’re going to play it week-by-week, he’s never had an injury so going forward providing that doesn’t happen hopefully we see him racing come the Melbourne Cup.”

Grenfell was asked about his other runners and he pushed Vader Bale as his best chance followed by Tonk.

“She (Vader Bale) has recently returned from a season. We started her back over shorter distances which isn’t ideal for her. She can run 5.02/5.03 (to the first split) every week, she’ll be in front it’ll just be a matter of if they can catch her.

“I’m very confident on Vader and Tonk will be hard to beat if he jumps to the front.”

Click here for tonight’s fields
Click here for the racebook

How I’m (@Jason4dams) tackling tonight’s card:

Race 5, Envy To Burn (1)
He’s better than his recent form on paper as he’s met some very good fields. He’s consistently at the pointy end of the field early in his races and I think he can set a time of around 29.60. Mepunga Knight is the main danger and there are some faster ones drawn to the outside but Envy To Burn will have track position and I think it’ll count for plenty.

Race 8, Mepunga Ruby (2)
This looks to be a lead and win scenario. Out of the boxes she won’t deal with much pressure from her immediate inside or out which should have her going forward. She’s shown she can break 42 seconds, if she does that leading the pack it would take a peak performance from a rival to beat her.

Race 9, Mepunga Katie (1)
Last week she found drama from a wide draw as she was keen to get down to the rail. Box 1 helps her tonight, pending she gets a relatively cushy ride early they will find it difficult to hold her out late. She’s had some interruptions during her career but at her best she’s very good.

Quaddie
1,4,6,8 / 1,4,5,6 / 1,2,7,8 / 2

How Mick Floyd (@MickFloyd) sees it:

Best: Race 8, Mepunga Katie (2)
Value: Race 1, Jye’s Jet (1)

Quaddie
1,4 / 1,2,5 / 1,2,8 / 2

Jason Adams
About Jason Adams - Racing Operations Coordinator at Sandown Park. Over 8 years involvement in greyhound racing and one of the sport's biggest and most passionate fans.
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