Forty of Australia’s fastest greyhounds will be competing head-to-head across 20 matches at Sandown Park on Sunday in the latest edition of the Speed Star.

Punters have the opportunity to bet head-to-head, or to place multi bets, which is just like backing a few teams across a round of AFL football.

Foxtel customers will have free and open access to Sky 2 (Channel 527) all day on Sunday including comprehensive coverage of the Speed Star from 5pm.

Below is The Watchdog’s detailed analysis of all 20 head-to-head matches, along with predictions on the fastest overall time in each of the five races.

SPEED STAR – RACE 1 (595M)

5.08PM: BLUE STRIKER (1) V SPRING BRIDGE (2)
The Watchdog says: Spring Bridge has turned in some brilliant performances of late and he should be suited to this racing format. Blue Striker is expected to lead for the first 300m, however he is a few lengths off his best these days and Spring Bridge is expected to light him up mid race.
Prediction: Spring Bridge by 3 lengths in 33.85sec.

5.16PM: APEX WITHIN (3) V EXTREME JUSTICE (4)
The Watchdog says: Extreme Justice is a gifted chaser when at his best, but he can be very hard to follow whilst Apex Within is a prolific winner and he is a specialist over this distance range. Apex Within can be a little risky early but he does explode once he hits the ground and he should assume control as they go past the post the first time and it should be easy work for him from then on.
Prediction: Apex Within by 4 lengths in 33.90sec.

5.26PM: TRUE DETECTIVE (5) V SHORINO (6)
The Watchdog says: Toughest matchup for this event with not a whole lot separating them on their PBs. SHORINO comes here with strong Queensland form and if he reproduces his breathtaking 34.51sec Albion Park run, he could potentially win the overall race. True Detective is three from three over this track and trip, but this is easily his toughest test to date.
Prediction: Shorino by 1.5 lengths in 34.00sec.

5.37PM: ROCKSTAR PRINCE (7) V NEO CLEO (8)
The Watchdog says: Neo Cleo is one of the best sprinters/middle distance chasers in the business and she has been spearing the lids of late. Rockstar Prince has been racing well in town of late, but he will need to lead to win this match up and it’s hard to see him holding the front.
Prediction: Neo Cleo by 3 lengths in 33.95sec.

SPEED STAR – RACE 2 (515M)

5.46PM: KRAKEN LIGHTNING (1) V SWEET AS EMM (2)
The Watchdog says: Sweet As Emm has always done her best racing here and her racing pattern suggests that this format will suit. Kraken Lightning is expected to set the pace but with her scouting wide, Sweet As Emm should get a saloon passage through and assume control mid race. With Kraken Lightning setting a hot tempo, Sweet As Emm should be given every chance to lower her 29.35sec PB.
Prediction: Sweet As Emm by 5 lengths in 29.20sec.

5.57PM: CAMPINI (3) V WAGING WAR (4)
The Watchdog says: Very even match up when comparing their trial efforts from last week but Campini is expected to have the most room for improvement. Campini has been a little disappointing in his two trials here but if he can bring his best WA form with him, he will take a power of beating. Waging War is expected to lead but with Campini settling a lot closer than normal, he should be able to run over the top in the closing stages.
Prediction: Campini by 2 lengths in 29.30sec.

6.06PM: SAINT DESTRUCTOR (5) V RAZOR’S EDGE (6)
The Watchdog says: Razor’s Edge is one of the hottest prospects in work and his recent SA form is off the charts. Saint Destructor is racing well below his best at present and he is likely to have trouble keeping up with Razor’s Edge. Bad luck appears to be Razor’s Edge’s only real danger.
Prediction: Razor’s Edge by 6 lengths in 29.35sec.

6.16PM: ASTON CHANDON (7) V WEBLEC ACE (8)
The Watchdog says: Weblec Ace recently captured the Cranbourne Classic against a gun line up and he has proven in the past that he is very hard to get past when on the arm. Aston Chandon has some blistering wins to her credit, but she is likely to get crossed in the early stages and she will find it difficult to get past the leader when he is running around the 29.30 mark. Weblec Ace will need to miss the kick for Aston Chandon to have any chance.
Prediction: Weblec Ace by 2 lengths in 29.30sec.

SPEED STAR – RACE 3 (515M)

6.27PM: SENNACHIE (1) V BLACK SIGNATURE (2)
The Watchdog says: Black Signature has shown significant improvement in recent weeks, but he is coming up against the best chaser in the land and is going to have his work cut out. Sennachie should be able to pounce on the arm and if the track is in good condition, he could give the 29 seconds barrier a nudge. Sennachie will be short in betting but he should be scoring comfortably.
Prediction: Sennachie by 5 lengths in 29.05sec.

6.41PM: CABIN FEVER (3) V HOOKED ON SCOTCH (4)
The Watchdog says: Hooked On Scotch has taken the greyhound racing world by storm in recent weeks and he is probably the fastest chaser on the planet. He is still learning the caper, however with Cabin Fever being slow early, he should be afforded a clear run early and he is a different chaser when on the arm. He probably can’t match Sennachie’s early sectionals, but he is extremely strong, and he should get every chance to produce his best.
Prediction: Hooked On Scotch by 4 lengths in 29.00sec.

6.51PM: COURTING (5) V GOT SOME WHEELS (6)
The Watchdog says: Got Some Wheels is easily the most talented of the two runners, but Courting can match him early on and there may be some bumping at the first bend. Got Some Wheels should be able to find the rail in the middle stages and he should put this race to bed soon after.
Prediction: Got Some Wheels by 4 lengths in 29.30sec.

7.01PM: LUCY’S MILO (7) V FERAL FRANKY (8)
The Watchdog says: Feral Franky is going to be well supported in this event; however, he isn’t going to get it all his own way and there is every chance of a boil over. Lucy’s Milo has been racing well over longer distances of late and, with the inside draw he should be able to hold the early lead. Both runners have similar PBs, so the run to the first turn will be very important. Franky is a fierce chaser, but he couldn’t have got a tougher matchup than this one.
Prediction: Lucy’s Milo by 1 length in 29.20sec.

SPEED STAR – RACE 4 (515M)

7.11PM: RAMPAGING (1) V STEINBRENNER (2)
The Watchdog says: Very even match up and a case of speed versus strength. Rampaging recently posted a cracking 29.51sec here under race conditions and he still has plenty of improvement in him. Steinbrenner owns a blistering 29.42PB here but that was earlier in his career and he has lost a little bit of his early zip. Rampaging should be able to pounce on the early lead and he will be able to zip away in the middle stages.
Prediction: Rampaging by 1 length in 29.30sec.

7.20PM: ASHLEY’S ENTITY (3) V BEATRICE (4)
The Watchdog says: Tough race with former star prospect Ashley’s Entity racing well below his best. Both chasers are quite evenly matched for the first 400m, however at present Beatrice appears to be the stronger of the two. Beatrice scouts wide in her races, so there shouldn’t be too much interference in running. Beatrice is expected to star favourite, but it may be worthwhile watching for any significant betting moves on Ashley’s Entity.
Prediction: Beatrice by 1.5 lengths in 29.60sec.

7.28PM: CAVATRON (5) V GO SEEK HEIDI (6)
The Watchdog says: Two classy types are going head to head; however, Go Seek Heidi appears to be going a lot better than Cavatron at present. They would prefer to swap draws; however, Go Seek Heidi is quite a versatile chaser and once she can find the rail she should go into overdrive. Cavatron should probably hold the early lead but he may have trouble holding her off in the final 60 metres.
Prediction: Go Seek Heidi by 1.5 lengths in 29.45sec.

7.40PM: LAGOON RHETT (7) V HE’S FOR ME (8)
The Watchdog says: Lagoon Rhett has been racing well against some real topliners of late and he is a different chaser when on the arm. He’s For Me will need to lead to win this event and even if he does lead, there is a chance he will be picked off late. Lagoon Rhett should be able to hold him out early and he should be scoring in comfortable fashion.
Prediction: Lagoon Rhett by 4 lengths in 29.35sec.

SPEED STAR RACE 5 (715M)

7.52PM: TORNADO TEARS (1) V HAN SOLO (2)
The Watchdog says: Tornado Tears is the greatest stayer we have seen, and this should be the easiest 25k connections have ever earnt. ‘Batman’ trialled brilliantly here the other week and with Han Solo scouting wide he should be able to gain a clear run throughout.
Prediction: Tornado Tears by 18 lengths in 41.20sec.

8.05PM: ANGRY TRIP (3) V SHE WILL BLOOM (4)
The Watchdog says: Angry Trip has been racing in consistent style and he beat a solid line up here last week. She Will Bloom has the class edge and she clearly has more brilliance. She Will Bloom showed a lot more strength when placed here last week and she should be setting a cracking pace out in front.
Prediction: She Will Bloom by 3 lengths in 41.95sec.

8.14PM: ZIPPING GALON (5) V SIR JAY JAY (6)
The Watchdog says: Both chasers are a little one paced, but they can both run all day. Zipping Galon appears to be racing the better of the two and he may be able to hold the early lead. He is very hard to get past when out in front. Very hard to tip either one with any confidence but Zipping Galon gets the nudge purely because he comes into this with better race form.
Prediction: Zipping Galon by 1.5 lengths in 41.90sec.

8.23PM: ANNIE LAVA (7) V BLUE SHADOWS (8)
The Watchdog says: Blue Shadows is racing with tremendous confidence at present and he set the track alight here last week with a dashing 41.69sec win. Annie Lava has been racing well in strong company of late, but she is likely to be giving away a decent head start, and she will have trouble bridging the gap.
Prediction: Blue Shadows by 2 lengths in 41.60sec.