Albion Park greyhound tips, previews & best bets | Thursday 18/5/23
Albion Park is set to host 12 races on Thursday night from 6:42PM local time. The Queensland Winter Carnival is in full swing with 3 cracking series about to kick start. Heats of the Q Gold Emerging Sprinters (520m), Q Gold Winter Chase (600m) and Q Gold Winter Sprint (520m) will highlight the night with the best bred greyhounds in the sunshine state to fight their way into next week's rich finals.
Best Bet: Blue Hornet (Race 6)
The last of two terrific heats over the 600m distance presents the best bet on the program. Blue Hornet, a two-year-old son of Sennachie x Champagne Sally returns to the longer trip after a luckless run in the 2023 Brisbane Young Guns last week. Previous to this, Blue Hornet showcased his huge motor over the 630m at Ipswich, 366m at Capalaba and 520m at Albion Park displaying his great versatility. In the heats of the Young Guns he jumped a well supported odds on favourite and was only fairly into stride. Facing a mammoth task, Blue Hornet was able to pick through his rivals and eventually roared to the lead scoring by upwards of four lengths. He ran home in a ridiculous 12.57 weaving through traffic. Last week in the final he had little luck from a middle draw being held up for running on several occasions. His record over this track and trip is phenomenal (5: 3-1-1) with a personal best of 34.65 which is just three lengths off the track record. He has two slow starters drawn either side of him which should allow him to find the prime position going past the post the first time. With any luck whatsoever, Blue Hornet will be making his way through to next week's final and winning tonight.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
Blue Hornet (3)
Form: 111516 | Career: 34: 16-3-3 | Trainer: Raymond Burman
Next Best: Another Chance (Race 2)
The first of three cracking heats where Queensland will showcase their best young talent. Another Chance, hailing from the Selena Zammit kennels looks ideally drawn in the cherry and will ultimately prove hard to hold out. The two-year-old son of My Redeemer x Lilly Sur Seine has amassed a brilliant record (22: 9-3-3) and has raced well without winning over the past month. He has recorded three placings in his past four outings against the likes of It's A Roo and Cobblepot who are currently two of the in-form runners in lower grade around Albion Park. He had four outings from the inside draw recording one win and three placings. King Of Cool and Villante drawn outside him both have the tendency to run off on the first corner here at Albion Park which will leave plenty of room for Another Chance to rail underneath and find a prominent spot heading down the back. Another Chance is very strong late and will prove hard to hold out for the plum draw.
Next Best
Race 2 – 
Another Chance (1)
Form: 112325 | Career: 22: 9-3-3 | Trainer: Selena Zammit
Best Value: Zipping Chandler (Race 12)
The smorgasbord board of Queensland racing will wrap up with the usual masters race where Zipping Chandler appears the best value runner of the night. The four-year-old son of Aston Dee Bee x Zipping Jewel returns to masters company for the first time since winning by a nose in 30.21 over Summer Breeze. Since then, he has finished down the track at big odds in 3rd/4th grade races against the likes of Refulgent and Showdown. In all three races, the winner has run in the low 30 seconds and Zipping Chandler has raced without luck. Tonight, he maps very well despite the middle alley. Burned drawn directly outside him, is a consistent beginner and looks the likely leader of this race. He will run cover for Zipping Chandler as he likes to use the track throughout. Running Express drawn inside him has been beginning poorly of late and given he follows recent history, Zipping Chandler will receive plenty of room in the initial stages of this race. This will allow him to find a nice spot early on which will take him a long way to closing the night out on a winning note for punters.
Best Value
Race 12 – 
Zipping Chandler (5)
Form: 631475 | Career: 50: 9-10-5 | Trainer: Leeanne Goodwin
