Blazer faces danger in Villain

RON Phillips’ Storm Blazer is flying with three consecutive wins, but the young flyer faces a huge challenge against a highly-credentialled veteran at Winnellie Park tonight.

The two-year-old will go up against the 2016 Greyhound of the Year, Arnhen Villain, in the $1600 race-two feature NT Government Sprint Division 1 over 537m.

Arnhen Villain — in reigning trainers’ champion Jamie Hosking’s kennel — has also started the year impressively, with two wins and a second .

Richard Smith’s Black Jungle is another who deserves respect in the five-dog field, the three-year-old winning over the longer distance in last Sunday’s feature race.

In race one, Graeme Ferns should again dominate this maiden dash over 312m, and both Torment and Pontypiari look the main chances.

Ferns had the top-three finishers in the first of the ninerace card last Sunday.

Tough veteran campaigner Hanson Harley has not drawn ideally (box five) in race three, but he has plenty of ability for trainer Graeme Scott.

Race four is a tough one to predict, but you can expect the Hosking-trained Sweet Crystal to improve from box eight.

The Carol Pickard-trained Ashby Daze has drawn well in box eight and appears to have found a nice event for herself in race five.

Russell Savige would be hopeful his pair Night Harmony and newcomer Call Me Bella should be good enough to be in the finish in race six.

Race seven has plenty of quality, including the Andrew Lasker pair Dashing Geek and Out There Jerry who are both racing well.

Race eight will feature two newcomers in Navajo Warrior (Hosking) and Princess Demonic for Joel Vansleve.

Knieval from box one (Russell Savige) and Mahjong Lad (Nick Day) appear the main threats.

Consistent veteran Arnhem Chaos (Phillips) will take holding from box one in race nine.

And in race 10, Woody One can run a big race for Nathan Toms.