THE connections of star Tasmanian greyhound Buckle Up Wes will be hoping the dog finds a clear passage to the first turn in Launceston tonight to ensure he lands a berth in the state final of the AGRA National Sprint Championship series over 515 metres.
Buckle Up Wes has been a finalist in two Group 1 national events since winning the Group 1 Australian Cup in March.
But last start in Launceston he found all sorts of trouble from box seven in the J. G Nelson Cup division one final when seventh to Her Highness.
Tonight he faces a tough task from box five in the first (Race 5) of three heats because if he doesn’t begin brilliantly he could again be a victim of the deadly first turn.
Arome Peche (7) is usually fast to begin so if he crosses from box seven and Hellyeah Missile flies the lids from box four there will be tightening and that could spell disaster for Ted Medhurst’s kennel star.
But Buckle Up Wes also has the ability to begin brilliantly and if that happens and he either leads or trails the leader after encountering the first turn he should easily qualify for next week’s state final.
Dirty Rich has drawn well in box one but he would need to improve on what he produced in Hobart last Thursday night.
Despicable Ben from the Brendan Pursell kennel has drawn box six and should he also begin brilliantly he has the ability to cause an upset.
The first two placegetters in each of the three heats and the two fastest thirds will qualify for the final next Monday night.
The second heat (Race 6) is a wide open affair with Illingworth Classic winner Kalaway Ernie has been freshened up for this assignment after two runs interstate and should he fly from box seven the Butch Deverell-trained dog will be hard to beat.
Black Rip (6) and Class Barbie (4) have early speed and they represent the main dangers while should Pipstar have things go her way from box two the Robin Grubb-trained bitch has what it takes to run good enough time to win.
Hellyeah Bolt will start the favourite in heat three (Race 7) and only needs to take the form that he showed in winning in Hobart last Thursday night to cruise into next week’s final.
The Anthony Bullock-trained dog will wear the black vest so he will need to jump as well as he did in Hobart to be in a winning position heading out of the first turn.
Good Odds Demon (4) has good early speed so he could be a danger along with Her Highness that has drawn her box (1) and she won the J. G Nelson Division One final in which Hellyeah Bolt ran sixth.
There weren’t enough dogs nominated for the AGRA National Distance Championship state heats so that will be run as a final best eight next week, however the LGRC programmed a 720-metre distance free-for-all for some of the those nominated for the distance series.
Related information:
- Punters Corner – Robert Fahey’s Tips, Form comments and racebook.
- Tasracing on the radio – Replays of the RadioTAB Tasmanian Greyhound Show and RSN Carnival Tasracing Greyhound Talk.