Waverider, who won the Group 1 Sales Classic (1730m) earlier this year, was due to start his campaign tonight but Ryan Bell was forced to withdraw him yesterday.

Bell still has Franco Encore and Heez A Vibe in the race, who will start from barrier three and seven respectively.

Bell said he was taking cautious approach with Waverider.

"We're just having trouble with him tying up," Bell told The Trots WA.

"We worked him on Saturday morning and I was really happy with him.

"We jogged him yesterday morning and he tied-up again.

"It's not worth sending him around."

Franco Encore will have his second race start tonight, his only other trip to Gloucester Park resulted in an unplaced performance in April's Champagne Classic.

Bell said he had high hopes for the gelding and expected him to be hard to beat tonight.

"I've got a good opinion of him, but we need to see it at the races," he said.

"He was disappointing in the Champagne Classic, but he did have a virus after it.

"Kyle was keen to drive him tonight."

Bell indicated Heez A Vibe was capable of winning tonight, but had to improve his racing manners.

Franco Encore, Heez A Vibe and Waverider are all being aimed at the Pearl Classic and Golden Slipper over the next two months.

Waverider is also eligible for the $225,000 Westbred Classic on September 15.

Meanwhile, Bell said star pacer Shockwave was back swimming as he prepares for a tilt at November's WA Pacing Cup (2536m).

Prior to the Pacing Cup, the seven-year-old will start in the $100,000 JP Stratton Cup (2536m) and $100,000 James Brennan Memorial (2130m) on October 13 and 27 respectively.