SOME of Tasmania’s best grades four and five greyhounds will take centre stage at Devonport today in heats of the Betfair Classic over 452 metres.
Groovy Lane will line up in heat two (race 3) and will be attempting to make it seven wins from eight starts and make amends for his shock loss to Underclass Hero in Hobart last Thursday night in the Easter Plate final.
Underclass Hero franked the form by winning in Launceston last night and Groovy Lane suffered multiple checks in his first loss last Thursday night.
Today he wears the white vest and provided he shows his normal early speed he should win and progress to next week’s final.
The first heat (race 2) looks a match between Pioneer Mogul (2) and Despicable Matt (5) with Pioneer Mogul coming off a maiden win at Devonport last week while Despicable Matt can be forgiven his last start failure in Hobart and punters should go on his two previous efforts at the same track.
The Keith Nichols-trained Revelator looms as a top each-[way chance in heat three (race 4) and Kalaway Knocka has drawn well enough (3) to warrant respect in heat four (race 5).
Heat five (race 6) is very open with Great Taylors (1), Ninja Bear (5), Rear Window (6) and Buckle Up Neiko (7) the best chances.
Fast Turtle (4) and last start Launceston winner Miss Taylor (5) loom as the likely favourites in heat six (race 7) while Shanlyn Vapour from the Graeme Moate kennel should be hard to beat from box four in the seventh heat (race 8).
The Brendan Pursell-trained Poppy Singer has been racing well of late and provided she jumps cleanly she will be hard to beat from box three in the final heat (race 9).
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