Warrior The Best Of Britton's McKenna Hopes

TRAINER Jeff Britton believes Mepunga Warrior is the pick of his kennel's chances at Sandown Park on Thursday night.

Britton, who along with partner Angela Langton trained four winners at The Meadows last Saturday night, will send nine runners to the View Road circuit on a card highlighted by three heats of the group 2 McKenna Memorial (595m) alongside a Great Eight event over 515m.

FIELDS AND FORM SANDOWN THURSDAY

"The last couple of weeks he's had boxes four and six in those Great Eights – pretty good fields – and they've just been huge runs.

"He's got box two, near the fence, you've just got to hope he's close enough around the post the first time. He's my best chance for the night."

The winner and runner-up of each heat of the McKenna Memorial – as well as the two fastest third place getters – will progress to the $40,000 to the winner final on Thursday 7 July.

Race 1: Violent Delight (box 6), $21

"I'm just hoping she improves, as the rest of the litter has. She's been going around the bush and it probably doesn't suit her on the horseshoes, I think she'll probably go better on the circle. She'll need to improve."

Race 2: White Whale (box 6), $3.40

"She just keeps surprising. She wasn't doing a lot early days but I took her town and she's doing better in town than she was doing in the bush. She's no superstar, but she'd got good habits, she can begin and she runs pretty straight. She's got a chance."

Race 2: Wobbly Boots (box 8), $3

"She's got bad habits. She can really run but she doesn't get out of the box. From box 8 I'd say she'll really struggle."

Race 5: Do It (box 8), $7.50 – McKenna Memorial heat 1

"The box makes it hard. He's got to jump two ahead of them to get across, that's the hardest part. I'd say it'll be a hard task to win from out there."

"Do It is getting it done!"

Do It wins the @tabcomau Adelaide Cup at $12! ? pic.twitter.com/V7tckwZfHF

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 8, 2021

Race 6: Plan Ahead (box 6), $4.80 – McKenna Memorial heat 2

"He's flying that dog. I was happy to draw in, but he's been jumping well. He had a long time off with injury but he's come back really well."

Race 7: Mepunga Warrior (box 2), $3.10 – McKenna Memorial heat 3

"He's well boxed and has plenty of ability."

Race 8: Weblec Flare (box 6), $9.50 and Jepara (Reserve), $5.50 – Great 8

"Weblec Flare is racing well but he's probably a grade 4 dog. Jepara is going well at the moment –he's well in the race he gets a start because he can run from any box"

Race 10: Keep It Blue (box 7), $5.50

"He wants to get across. He's going pretty well, he was a little underdone last week so I've put him in town trying to get an easier race. If he can get out well and get across, but box 7 makes it hard."

 Race 11: Osprey Phantom (box 8), $3.30

"He really surprised me last week. He started off like a house on fire when he was younger and then run into some injury problems. If he can do the same as he did last week he's in for a show."

The first of 12 races will jump at 6.14pm.