Armchair Guide To National Championships Night

NOEL Mugavin's decision to send McInerney to Tasmania for a confidence-boosting stint could pay off with a berth in the National Sprint.

WARRNAMBOOL breeder-owner Noel Mugavin's decision some months ago to send McInerney to Tasmania for a confidence-boosting stint could pay off with a berth in the upcoming Group 1 National Sprint Final (520m) at Wentworth Park.

McInerney (Fernando Bale-Born Ali) was struggling with poor box draws in Victoria but Mugavin decided that a stint with Blake Pursell at Brighton “could” work wonders.

It did just that and McInerney came back to Victoria with a scorching 29.24 victory at Sandown and performances in top grade at Sandown and The Meadows few would have expected.

FIELDS AND FORM LAUNCESTON THURSDAY NIGHT

“That 29.24 is the fastest I've had at Sandown and that includes Group 1 dogs like his mother Born Ali and his half relations Benali, Barcali, Sweet As Emm and the like,” said Noel.

Having spent that time in Tassie, McInerney thus became eligible for that state's Nationals series and he was brilliant in his heat at Launceston reeling off a 29.41 victory.

He has box two in the state final there on Thursday night.

“Tassie racing was just what he needed,” said Noel Mugavin. “It gave him the confidence to get back to his best.

“And, he has drawn perfectly for the state final this week.”

McInerney comes into the final off four straight wins  at The Meadows and a Sandown FFA in 29.30.

Dave Croswell's Highland Wonder looks hardest to beat in a four-dog Tassie Distance final.

YOUTHFUL trainer Adam Smithson will go into Thursday night's WA state finals with confidence having two of the hottest chances to go to Wentworth Park.

Tsar Bell, yet another offspring of much underrated stud dog Out Of Range, heads into the WA Distance final with impressive form winning his past four including a 42.35 beating strong rival Pilbara.

FIELDS AND FORM CANNINGTON THURSDAY NIGHT

But, it will be Smithson's Group 1 Perth Cup winner Vice Grip which rates hugely in the state Sprint final especially coming off the rails.

Vice Grip has had one start since being injured at Wentworth Park back in April.

He led and was run down by Momentum at Cannington in a state heat beaten a length and off the rails and with natural improvement, he is likely to start favourite and be hard to toss.

The WA Sprint final is as strong as any in the country featuring up and coming star Panama Pepper also.

SHIPWRECK, another son of Out Of Range, will start hot favourite for the Queensland Sprint final and boasts a scorching 29.32 win at Wentworth Park in preparation for the Nationals.

But, Rob Jacobsen's He's So Cool holds the key to Shipwreck's chances.

“He will be coming over to the rails very hard,” said Jacobsen of his litter brother to current superstar She's A Pearl.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

Shipwreck has not drawn to suit in the five.

His litter brother and kennelmate Oh Oh Range gets his chance in the state final of the Distance, but the presence of staying star Days Of Thunder looms large.

BEDROCK Fred and Fantastic Radley will continue their battle for South Australian distance supremacy on Thursday night.

Fantastic Radley has won his past two at Angle Park over 730m but Bedrock Fred boasts Group 1 class.

Tony Rasmussen's Victa Grosso continues his purple form for the state Sprint final and is drawn to suit off the eight box.

FIELDS AND FORM ANGLE PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

The Sprint final is a very even race.

SIMPLY Limelight is drawn to perfection for the NSW state final of the Sprint for trainer Peter Rodgers.

The biggest cheer of the night at Wentworth Park  came from connections of Simply Limelight when their greyhound drew box one for the state final.

The youngest dog in the heats by three months, Simply Limelight shrugged off the jump in class and lack of experience to win his heat in a sizzling 29.66.

FIELDS AND FORM WENTWORTH PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

Super Estrella ran a personal best 41.63 over 720m in preparation for the state final of the Distance and few will doubt her claim to a Group 1 victory after contesting a number of feature finals.

But, she faces a challenge especially from Zipping Kansas who comes into the final off a Richmond 622m track record.

IN Victoria, the Dailly kennel has Zippy Tesla and Gypsy Wyong drawn the rails in the Sprint and Distance final respectively and both rates hard to toss.

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