Given the Pink Diamond action at Bendigo tomorrow night and Queensland tonight, it’s pretty decent card at Sandown Park.

It’s clearly led by Race 8, the Free-For-All, star sprinter He’s A Pearl meeting the warrior Paw Oswald, as well as Mav Reiko and Paw Damon.

A good entrée for tomorrow’s Pink Diamond card at Bendigo, then into Saturday night which is the best card The Meadows has seen for a while.

While I’m at it, make sure you tune in to Friday night’s Pink Diamond coverage – which will kick off at 6.30pm. You can watch it via the Watchdog App or Sky Racing Active on your smart TV

BEST
Race 7, Lamia Nonna Mim (3)
I really like the decision to step her up in distance. She should go straight to the front here and show them the way early. The question is, how strong will she be at the end? Based on her recent times for the last 100m of her races, I’m of the belief she will handle it just fine.

NEXT BEST
Race 8, He’s A Pearl (5)
It’s never easy in these open class Free-For-All races but he’s a star. The speed map looks to suit him very well, he should get immediate room to go forward and he’s strong enough to also give it to them late. Paw Oswald (8) is the danger, but he hasn’t won from an outside draw since October – largely due to the high quality of races he competes in, like this one.

VALUE
Race 4, Paw Quinby (2)
He should get every chance to go forward early here and that’s where he wants to be, side-by-side with the leader. He’s run top 2 in seven of his last 13 starts and he’s at a decent quote tonight, with a big place price due to no third dividend.

WORTH THE RISK/TAKE ON
Race 6, Paw Isla (1)
It’s not often you want to take on/lay a leader from box 1, but I’m keen to here. The bottom line is that she’s not that fast overall and she meets a field of strong greyhounds. I’m not sure who will beat her, but I reckon one of them will. At the opening quote of $2.60, happy to be against her.

QUADDIE
Race 5: Field
Race 6: Field
Race 7: 3
Race 8: 5