Named after Canberra rugby league star Alan Tongue, the three-year-old dog notched up his ninth career win on Saturday in the Free For All race (520m), prompting Streatfield to declare him a Cup hope.

“He loves racing at Armidale and if he draws well in the heats this weekend he can make the final field.

“If he’s lucky and draws well again in the Cup, I think he’s got to be a chance.

“His record at Armidale is terrific. I think he’s had 11 starts there for four wins, four seconds and two thirds.

“If he gets an inside box he’ll be hard to beat.”

Toungester ($2.80) was an impressive winner on Saturday, running a slick 30.93 in drizzly rain to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths from the Grafton-trained Jarrah’s Rocket.

There were no local winners at Armidale, although the six heats of the McDonalds Grade 5 challenge (365m) were hotly contested.

Reserve dog Island Rock ($7) gained a start in the opening heat for Gunnedah trainer Robert Withers and did not disappoint, winning in 21.81 from box six.

Miss Plio ($7) followed for Bray Park’s Bruce Caden and won by an impressive six lengths in heat two with a time of 21.71.

The third heat was taken out by Phoenix Bomber ($5), prepared at Deepwater by Neil Jarvis. He won by just over a length in 21.25.

But the most impressive win of the day came in heat four, where $1.20 favourite Obama Star sped to the lead from box one to lead all-the-way for a seven length win in a scorching time of 20.76 — only one of two dogs to break the 21 second barrier on Saturday.

Caden made it a double in the heats when Wopa ($3.50) won the fifth from box five in 20.95, winning by five-and-a-half lengths.

The final heat was claimed by Eagleton trainer Ronald Dawes with Big Cool Mulwee ($5) from box eight in 21.48.

The heats for the Armidale Cup will be run on Saturday in what is an action packed weekend for the Armidale Greyhound Club.

The committee expects to have capacity fields of 10 races on both Saturday and Sunday, with Armidale Cup Day to be held on Saturday, February 20.

Make sure you get a copy of The Express on Friday for full fields and a preview of the weekend action.