Tonight sees an abbreviated Quartet Happy Hour with three jackpots allocated to races at Sandown Park, Dapto and Angle Park starting at 6.52pm.
MD6 – 6.52pm – Grade 5 FINAL (515m) – $5,003
Est pool $30k
The Happy Hour kicks off with a very competitive Grade 5 Final where all of the greyhounds have good recent form, with only KILRUSH (5) not having a recent win to his credit. The early speed battle will be crucial here and on early sectionals there is very little difference between any of the field, except that the runners wearing blue, yellow and green may have a half length or so on the others. With such an even bunch engaged it will be wise to look at the box draw and when in doubt the red box is the best option. COOPER BALE (1) has a super record from the inside and from this box he has won 4 times and finished runner up twice from his 7 jumps. Last week he hugged the rail all of the way around, thus avoiding trouble to finish up as the second quickest qualifier, so with a similar run expect to see him in the top couple. Another greyhound likely to settle just behind the early speed is WHERE’S HANNIBAL (3) and he is more than capable of breaking the 30 seconds here again after doing so at his last 2 starts. He has won 3 out of his last 4 and he could easily get that charmed rails run that will put him right into the race. Plenty of respect must be given to the fastest qualifier HEATHER’S TIGER (6). She ran a super 29.64 when leading throughout from box 3 last week; however the wide draw might just be her downfall tonight as she has never won from outside of box 5. Other greyhounds with a decent chance are BLUERAY GIRL (4) and SHINTARO SAMURAI (2). BLUERAY GIRL will have to come out humming and find an untroubled lead to be a winning chance, but did jump the quickest of this field last week when going 5.16 early. SHINTARO SAMURAI will have to avoid early trouble as he is not the quickest beginner, but appears to be one of the better finishers here. Both are solid place hopes in this. The field for fourth is a must for wider players in what is a tough opening to the Happy Hour.
Quartet selections (listed in order of preference)
Winners: COOPER BALE (1), HEATHER’S TIGER (6) & WHERE’S HANNIBAL (3)
Chance at Odds: BLUERAY GIRL (4)
Place Anchor: SHINTARO SAMURAI (2)
MD6 – The Best of the “Happy Hour” Jackpots
Skinny Quartet Option
Last week’s collect: Nil
1,3,6 – 1,2,3,4,6 – 1,2,3,4,6 – 1,2,3,4,6 $60 for 83.3%
Wide Quartet Option
Last week’s collect: $123.83
1,3,4,6 – 1,2,3,4,6 – 1,2,3,4,6 – Field $60 for 25%
SD6 – 7.14pm – Group 2 Megastar Prelude (520m) – $5,005
Est pool $25k
Dapto returns to the Happy Hour tonight and what a super race they have put on here for quartet players. This is a prelude to next week’s Group 2 Megastar Final with the first three placegetters tonight qualifying for the final, so taking note of this week’s form will be a huge advantage next week. Drawn out wide is the classy REPEATED (7) who will be looking to repeat his back to back Dapto wins that he registered back in June. His form is still top notch, the box draw isn’t against him and the experience at the track will put him in good stead to take this tough race home. The speedy beginner CERTAIN MAGIC (1) is well drawn in the red and she certainly has the smarts to win this, especially with the scratching of the other speedy beginner GRETA BALE. CERTAIN MAGIC has had the one run here for the one win, so expect to see her railing out in front for a long way in this. The draw has not helped the classy SNOZZ (6) in this top race, but he is too good not to consider as a winning proposition. He has won his last 3 starts, but is second-up after a couple of months off the track and will need luck to be on his side tonight. SEEK AND DESTROY (8) and GRIPEN BALE (9) are both strong place anchors here. They will struggle to get warm early on but they will be finishing the race off powerfully. Whilst it is somewhat unlikely they could pinch a win, they are must inclusions for the placings in quartets. It is also hard to leave the Derby winner GOLD CLAIMER (2) entirely out of calculations. He will more than likely find a few of these too classy, but with his local experience he may be able to run a place at nice odds to bolster the dividend.
Quartet selections (listed in order of preference)
Winners: CERTAIN MAGIC (1) & REPEATED (7)
Each Way: SNOZZ (6)
Best Place Chances: SEEK AND DESTROY (8) & GRIPEN BALE (9)
AD8 – 7.41pm – Grade 5 FINAL (515m) – $5,001
Est pool $30k
The Happy Hour finishes on another even field where a case can be made for almost all of the runners. The very impressive heat winner DIGITAL SPEED (5) has not come up with a good box for this final, but with a repeat of the tenacity she showed last week she is a huge chance to register her fourth win in a row. Plenty is expected from the quick beginner EVERLASTING LUV (2). She was squeezed early on last week before battling along nicely to finish a good second. With a super slow beginner on her inside in this final and the draw advantage over the other quick beginners, she might get to the early lead and be very hard to run down. That slow beginner on her inside is the freight train finisher SPRINGVALE COOPS (1), who can never be discounted in his races. The rails draw suits and it will be wise not to leave him out of winning calculations. In fact, from his 8 starts from this box he has not been out of the top four, even though he does like to use a bit of the track in running. ULYSSES (3) and MAD MAGIC (4) were both very impressive when winning their respective heats last week; however they will both require some luck here. Including them for a place, and maybe for the win in wider quartets, may help punters collect a nice dividend. Whilst NIRIMBA KNIGHT (8) may struggle to win here, he could disrupt the more fancied types and fill a placing again after not missing a drum in his last 7 starts. His early speed could quite easily see him in a prominent position early and he is more than capable of hanging onto third or fourth spot. Making the job even harder for punters here is the fact that three greyhounds ULYSSES (3), DIGITAL SPEED (5) and MR. MAVROSS (6) all ran new PB’s last week. There is no doubt punters should play as wide a flexi as possible here, which could see them return a handy profit.
Quartet selections (listed in order of preference)
Each Way Hopes: EVERLASTING LUV (2), SPRINGVALE COOPS (1) & DIGITAL SPEED (5)
Best Place Chances: MAD MAGIC (4) & ULYSSES (3)
Place Anchor: NIRIMBA KNIGHT (8)