Course specialist gets nod

A home town victory is on the cards in the inaugural Inter-Provincial Challenge, one of three feature races at the Wairarapa Greyhound Racing Club's meeting at Solway Showgrounds on Monday.
Course specialist Clydebank, owned and trained by club president Owen Marron, was chosen ahead of the more consistent Truant in a close battle to represent Wairarapa in the $6000 middle distance event and local knowledge will be a big assist in his bid to stave off challengers from seven other regions- Auckland, Waikato, Manawatu, Wanganui, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago-Southland.
In five starts on the Solway track Clydebank has registered four wins, the latest of them coming at the Christmas meeting when he overcame a tardy beginning by barging his way along the rails on the home turn and forcing all of his main rivals over extra ground.
He may need to employ similar tactics on Monday as his lack of early pace will almost certainly see him beyond midfield going into the back straight.
Auckland representative Rialto Reason showed his class with an impressive second to reigning Greyhound of the Year Catch Me Soon on his home track on December 22 and his trainers Ben and Lisa Craik have tasted success on previous trips to Solway. Weight of northern money might, in fact, see him start favourite.
Wanganui's Moana Nui should not be judged by her lack of recent form as she has been racing in strong company and Solway is a course which will suit her front-running tendancies. She could be the popular choice for those seeking longer odds.
Representing Waikato is Lika Cruise, another whose form background belies his ability. He will most likely drift off the pace early in the piece and be doing his best work at the finish.
Fantasy Shifter (Manawatu) struck traffic problems last time out and that failure can be overlooked when assessing her prospects. She has plenty of early speed and is sure to be in the firing line for a long way. The fact she has trialled at Solway is a definite plus for her.
Upahut Looney (Wellington) made ground stylishly for third on the second day of the Wairarapa Christmas meeting. Stamina is his long suit so a soft or heavy track would see his stocks soar.
Tulonga Loafer (Canterbury) might not have the profile of some of her rivals on Monday but she has won well in handy times at Addington at her last two starts so comes to Solway in the best form of her career. Baghdad Token represents the Otago-Southland area and it is worth noting that most of his bst form has been on grass tracks. His win at Ascot Park in Invercargill two starts back was authoritative and the brother to proven performers Dabyne Prince and Jetset Token has the potential to at least make a nuisance of himelf.
The other feature races on Monday's card are the New Zealand Championship Hurdles, in which kennelmates Prince Zidane and Aranuijazz will dispute favouritism, and the Gobis series final for New Zealand-bred greyhounds. The Marron-trained Tighnabruich will start a short?priced favourite there.
Fields are:-
RACE1; REBECCA'S PAL has shown improved form of late and has enough early speed to suggest the 290m journey will play right into her hands. SAILAH JAYNE is a promising type in Shayne Gardner's Eketahuna kennels and does most of her trialling at Solway. Track knowledge will assist her as it will CAMCAFF who all too often spoils his chances with tardy beginnings.
RACE 2: Waikato kennelmates BRONNIE BOLTA and HE'S A BLUR could fight this one out.The former is the more brilliant of the two but if it comes down to a dogfight (excuse the pun) He's A Blur's strength might have the final say.SANTOFT TIGER won impressively last time out and has performed well at Solway in the past.He is a definite place chance as is the under-rated DANCING BOHEMIAN.
RACE 3: ARANUI SPEEDY is a precocious youngster who looked extra smart when winning a qualifying trial at Solway a few weeks back. If he traps well he should take this out. WHEELCHAIR JIM ran an improver's race at the Christmas meeting and is capable of continuing on with the good work. SIXTEEN GUAGE has speed to burn but has struck traffic problems in her last couple of runs and could be lacking in confidence.She is too quick to risk though.
RACE 4: MISS CHANTELLE always requires an ounce of luck in her races as she tends to take a couple of strides to get into top gear but noone could question her ability to win an event of this nature. FARMER BENSON treks to Masterton from the far north and has shown enough in the Auckland area to suggest he should pay expenses.MONDO CAMPIONE won well at the December meeting at Solway and is quite capable of a repeat.
RACE 5: TRUANT has only finished further back than fourth twice in his last 11 starts and sheer consistency will guarantee he is the medium of strong support. MISS BLUE VELVET has a powerful finish and the Solway track suits her style of racing. A win to her would be no surprise. TIGER EYES is another generally going his best work at the finish of his races.If he works into a handy position by the home turn look out!
RACE 6: KAITOKE SUE is a former track record holder over the sprint distance who retains enough speed to make a nuisance of herself in this company. She could be at good odds too.HELLO SAIL0R seldom goes a bad race and should be up with the pace from the word go.CECELIA BRYAN is an old timer with the experience to take the short cuts.
RACE 7; TIGHNABRUICH made short work of a quality field at Manawatu on Wednesday and is even better suited at Solway, a track on which he has displayed some of his best form.He should keep the club president happy.
CRUZMORE won this race 12 months ago and would only need to work to the lead early in the piece to fully extend the favourite. UPAHUT ROSE won her heat in most emphatic fashion and is another suited by the Solway track.
RACE 8: PRINCE ZIDANE looked every inch a championship contender when he cleared out from his rivals in his qualifying heat. He combines speed on the flat with safe jumping and appeals as the top hope in a good field of hurdlers..ARANUIJAZZ won twice over the sticks at Solway earlier in the month and showed his fitness with a handsome victory on the flat at Manawatu on Wednesday. GONE TROPPO is the current Hurdler of the Year and his trainer has been working hard to overcome minor injury problems. At his peak he could repeat last year's success in this event.
RACE 9: CLYDEBANK is a course specialist whose knowledge of the track will mean plenty in a field mostly containing greyhounds having their first look at Solway.
He does tend to miss the start though and that could be a problem.RIALTO REASON is probably the class act in this line-up and would only need to avoid traffic congestion at the first corner to be a huge winning chance.MOANA NUI is a noted front runner who would take a power of catching were she to get a break on them through the middle stages.
RACE 10: TANNOCHBRAE should complete a big day for the Marron kennels. He has a touch of class about him and it seems only bad luck could stop him from winning this.
Pahiatua trainers Bill and Penny Denbee have a useful pair in MISTER FORBES and PEEL RIDGE SUE and they are both capable of featuring in the finish. GAZZA'S DELIGHT has been racing consistently and deserves respect as well.