Greyhound racing: Lilly Banner ready to spearhead Black Top attack for Barry Gibbons

Gibbons has four runners across the six heats of the group 2 series and Peter Mosman Opal winner Lilly Banner is the headline act.

The Dyna Double One bitch will contest heat three from box seven in her first start since a minor setback when third at Wentworth Park on July 22. Eleven days earlier, she flew the lids from box seven at the track to win the Peter Mosman (520m) by more than eight lengths.

"She had a little break after she pulled up a little lame, but she trialed really well last week, so she'll be right to go," Gibbons said.

"I gave her a post-to-post run at Richmond and she probably went the best she's ever gone. She never really runs time at Richmond but she come home like a train, so I was really happy with it."

Lilly Banner, a $2.50 TAB favourite, has won three of four attempts at The Gardens 515m but Gibbons was concerned about the wide draw.

"At Wentworth Park, she likes it," he said. "But it's a bit shorter run to the first turn at The Gardens, so she'd have to come out and do everything right. It's hard to cross there, but she probably drew one of the weaker heats, although you can't take them lightly."

Old Mick Banner ($7.50), a littermate to Lilly Banner, drew one in heat two. Gibbons also has Galaxy Banner ($3.70) in heat one and Chrissie Banner ($7) in the fifth, both from seven.

Galaxy Banner ran a slick 29.28 seconds for The Gardens 515m 11 months ago but has since had a litter. She has not raced since December but trialed in 22.79 over 400m at the track last week.

He said Galaxy Banner had "probably lost a yard early" but had come back more mature, settled and stronger.

"We didn't really have any plans on bringing her back but she's just jumping out of her skin," he said.

"She handled the whelping pretty easily, she only had four pups, so we brought her back steady and she's just a real competitor.

"She's a pretty laid-back, relaxed dog, but she loves to run and compete.

"She trialed good up there on Saturday night. She's probably not quite fit enough to run a great 500 up there yet, but she's run time there before, so we put her in."

Chrissie Banner is a last-start winner, clocking 29.47 in tough conditions, to make it three from three at the track and distance.

However, the Mister Twister bitch meets a tough field including in-form Unison and exciting Darryl Thomas-trained Xerri, which have drawn three and four respectively.

"She's only 21 months old and she's already run a sub-30 at Wentworth Park," Gibbons said.

"Every test she's faced, she'd handled it, but it's a big step up. There's some good dogs in that race. She's got to spear the lids and carve across."

Old Mick Banner has also won all three attempts at the track and distance.

"He's a real battler and just honest," Gibbons said.

"He hasn't got the ability of some of those dogs and is probably not up to group level, but he gives you everything and he drew box one, which brings him right into it.

"I think he holds the first section record up there for the 600 so he can ping the lids."

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