The Cranebrook trainer has La Mascara and Sill Searchin’ in the third and fourth preliminary races respectively.

Both have wins in their last few starts but have yet to trial the 450-metre distance at a Maitland Greyhound Club meeting.

The duo will have their first chance at this evening’s twilight program with the top two from each non-graded heat progressing to next week’s final.

Lachy Balboa and Tollbar have shown the most promise at Maitland previously stopping the clock at 25.16 and 25.20 seconds respectively.

Trainers such as Gary Ernst, Patrick Parrelli, Walter Simmons, Terry Priest, Peter Neilson, Daniel Flanagan and Nancy McIntosh also have charges across the four heats, worth $1400 to each winner.

The 10-race card also includes a 565m final with last start winner Evidence launching from the inside lane while Apache Gift will be replaced by first reserve Bugle Bonanza out of box six.

The meeting will open with a pair of maidens and also has a fifth grade 565m race and higher level 400- and 450-metre events. 

The first jumps at 4.07pm.

Maitland Greyhound Club sponsorship and promotions manager Fred Robertson said Tollbar (race nine, number three) was his best bet of the day.

In other greyhound news, Richmond Vale trainer Jason Mackay has six starters in the national Derby and Futurity semi-finals over 520m at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

Megan Keeping, Zipping Midge and Frost Yourself will be up against one another in the third Futurity semi-final.

Zipping Oscar and Zipping Carter will face off in the last of the Derby events.

Assertive Bella will take box two in the second of the Futurity races.

The event opens at 7.28pm.