Cunningham beat only one home at Wentworth Park last Thursday night but may have been going to win until he was skittled at the first turn.
Cunningham who has box four in this Thursday's 520m Follow RPV On Facebook Stakes, began smartly from box six and was disputing the lead with Crazed approaching the corner but lost all chance when he attempted to reach the rails as his rival moved wide.
Crazed bounced off Cunningham and went on to win but his opponent, who had almost taken a tumble, was relegated to seventh.
Trainer Ken Burnett said: "That was Cunningham's first race in a month but he has just gone super in a trial at Wentworth Park.
"I believe this dog has a future and the more racing he does, the better he will get.''
Cunningham should only need to jump as well as he did last week to be the pacemaker, as Bland Option, drawn outside him in box five, tends to race wide.
Cunningham
Skedaddle Arlo was an impressive winner on debut at Wentworth Park last Saturday night and trainer Mark Suttle believes the dog can complete a city double on Thursday night.
Skedaddle Arlo has box two in the 520m Ladbrokes Racing Club Stakes and Suttle is happy with his dog's inside draw.
Last week Skedaddle Arlo began only fairly but showed great dash to charge down the outside of his rivals and lead at the first turn, stopping the clock at a slick 29.83.
Before that race Skedaddle Arlo had overcome a check at box rise to run down the speedy Stan's Dream in a 520m fifth grade at Nowra.
"Skedaddle Arlo had box five last week but I far prefer him drawn near the rails like he is on Thursday,'' Suttle said.
"He is capable of jumping better than he has in his past two wins because he has been coming out on the 'wrong' leg.
"Skedaddle Arlo is only 21 months old so I'm really excited to see how much he can improve as he matures.''
Suttle's dog looks assured of a clear run as box three is vacant while the wide running Crazed is drawn in box four.
Zipping Koster, who has scored two wins and two seconds from four Wentworth Park starts, is the only city winner in Thursday's Ladbrokes Blackbook Stakes so looks the bet of the night.
After winning his maiden race from box four at Wentworth Park in 29.71 on December 5, Zipping Koster took the lead at the half way mark and drew away to win last Thursday in a slick 29.70, running home in a powerful 11.68.
Zipping Koster has box six but his wins have been from the four and seven draws and trainer Jason Magri has always said he doesn't mind the dog being boxed wide.
Black Myth Wave found "lid pinger" Mark To Market too slick at Wentworth Park last Thursday night but should be too speedy for his five rivals in Thursday's 520m NSW GBOTA Welcome Stakes.
Three starts back Black Myth Wave displayed dazzling early pace, leading throughout from box seven and covering the 520m in a nippy 29.86 after reeling off a flying first split of 5.39.
He is the only greyhound in Thursday's opening race to have broken the 30sec barrier at Wentworth Park.
Spring Lyle has been unplaced in each of three Wentworth Park appearances but the Scott Board-trained dog gets his chance to break through in Thursday night's 520m Ladbrokes WP Battlers Stakes.
Spring Lyle has won five of nine races on provincial tracks and was not disgraced when a distant runner-up to Black Tsunami in a 520m clearance trial at headquarters last Saturday night.
Spring Lyle chased the winner all the way and while he was beaten comfortably, Black Tsunami did cover the 520m in a flying 29.58 after finishing second, beaten a half length, in the Group 2 Maitland Cup final on December 6.
