Timeform’s Joe Nordoff gives us his take on the Silver Salver Final at Central Park on Sunday, with Shrewd Call earning the vote.
Shrewd to land Silver Salver on Sunday
In truth, the Silver Salver Final has served up a real cracker, with all the lead protagonists from the opening rounds making the final six, and there's extra interest around the final with three hounds in opposition in the hunt for the £10,000 Collossus Bets bonus for going unbeaten throughout the competition.
King Drake set the standard in the semi-finals posting a Timeform figure of 134, stopping the clock at 16.10. A wide runner, he encouragingly achieved that figure from trap 5, coming from behind the fast-trapping Coolavanny Dylan (Trap 4, TF 127).
Liz McNair’s charge can be expected to go well from the striped jacket but the percentage call is to side with fellow semi-final winner SHREWD CALL (Trap 3, TF 132).
David Mullins’ charge not for the first time wasn’t the sharpest at the boxes but he makes up for that with explosive pace to the bend, as he showed when bursting clear from the admirable Druids Brazona (Trap 2, TF 106) and posting another very smart 16.15 seven days ago.
The strong suspicion is the striking white and black dog can again emerge as the first-bend leader and emerging unscathed at that point, is fancied to stamp his authority on this field.
Grays Cup Winner (Trap 5, TF 125) hasn’t quite fired as expected upon returning to competitive action and Ballynabee Lucky (Trap 1, TF 120) may well provide the forecast play. The August 18 whelp proved his 12/1 first-round success no fluke when similarly bolting up in his respective semi-final, making all in 16.22. He’s another with more to offer as a sprinter and should prove a lead threat from lid rise.
Timeform 1-2-3
- SHREWD CALL TF 132
- BALLYNABEE LUCKY TF 120
- KING DRAKE TF 124
Saturday's Hove preview
Recommended bets
1pt double King Lennon (T3, 6.28) and Zascandil (T4, 7.18) at 2/1
1pt double Southfield Code (T6, 8.54) and Passing Stranger (T5, 9.12) at 7/4
Long-standing competitions in the greyhound calendar, both the Coral Sussex Cup and Regency have thrown up their fair share of memorable winners, track record-breaking Barnfield On Air and last-gasp heroine Flying Winner just two bringing back fond memories of yesteryear.
The first selection comes in Heat 2 of the Sussex Cup at 6.28 with KING LENNON (Trap 3, TF 118) fancied to bounce back to winning ways having fluffed his lines in a Trial Stakes heat seven days ago.
A strong-running sort with proven stamina for further, his chance was gone by the second bend behind the mightily impressive Smallmead on that occasion. The son of Eden The Kid can break much better than he did last time and, while not reliant on an early lead, can turn handy and prove too strong for his rivals from the three-quarter point.
Sidaz Jet (Trap 2, TF 115) may well provide the chief threat, particularly if seizing an early lead, but King Lennon is taken to stay best.
The second heat of the Coral Regency takes centre stage at 7.18 and in our book, it rates a good opportunity for ZASCANDIL (Trap 4, TF 121) to stamp his class on the contest having performed well in a strong-looking Trial Stake last week. Losing little caste in defeat behind his in-form litter brother Southfield Code, the final time he recorded that day reads well in this line-up.
Kevin Boon’s charge can quickly be in a handy position and book his place in round two.
Aforementioned SOUTHFIELD CODE (Trap 6, 8.54, TF 137) understandably announced himself as a lead player for outright Regency honours when posting a career-best display in scoring last week and he too rates a strong fancy.
Like many, he looks an improved performer post-lockdown (kennel boasting a 33% strike rate in last seven days), impressing with a slick start and ready success. Clearly in his prime at just two-and-a-half years old, he’s likely to be on the front end from lid rise judged on expected sectional times and may well just have enough to hold another who has proven himself fully effective at the Brighton circuit in the shape of Roxholme Butt (Trap 2, TF 123).
Heat 5 of the Coral Regency at 9.12 isn’t the strongest by any means and while unsuccessful so far post-lockdown, PASSING STRANGER (Trap 5, TF 123) is fancied to build on an encouraging run over C&D last week.
The son of Head Bound was worth marking up on that occasion, particularly given his early position in comparison to the winner Beechgrove Bell who had stolen first march on Mark Wallis’ charge. He needs to avoid the attentions of kennelmate No Can Boogie (Trap 4) who may well be moving right on the approach to the first bend, yet the selection is not devoid of early pace, can turn mid-division at worst and allow his strong-running style of running to come into play.
Posted at 1035 BST on 18/07/20
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