A first Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver triumph is within touching distance for Elizabeth and Rab McNair, who qualified two for Saturday’s feature race worth £12,500.
The Ashford couple have lifted the ARC Kent Plate and Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby in recent years, but the UK’s richest sprint competition is one which has evaded their trophy cabinet to date.
They’ll now be represented by April ’23 dogs King Jackson and King Presley who won both of their semi finals and have been drawn in traps four and five respectively for Saturday’s race.
Joining them are Maxine Locke’s Beaming Isla, Scurry Gold Cup hero Rioja Oisin for Kevin Hutton and Mark Wallis’ pair Pavilion Team and Ballinakill Liam.
Victory for either Jackson or Presley would be special for the McNairs as both kennel stars are homebred and have been raised only a short drive from Central Park. The latter is out of 2020 BGBF British Breeders’ Stakes champion Queen Dolly and sired by 2017 Greyhound of the Year King Elvis.
Assistant trainer Rab said: “Central Park is my local track, they always look after us well so it’s good to get a couple into the final.
“(King) Jackson ran brilliant, he came away and when he does that he’s a fast greyhound.
“(King) Presley is a sprinter, he’s a different type of greyhound to Jackson. He flashed out of the boxes, got to the corner and that was it. They couldn’t catch him.”
Saturday’s card also features the final of the Jenningsbet Bitches Trophy worth £1,000 to the winner.
The final features ARC Bitches Trophy champion and Cesarewitch finalist Head Count for local handler Barry O’Sullivan, plus St Leger finalist Tuono Bella. Coppice Miley, Hopes Kitty, Ballymac Mist and Coolavanny Sissy complete the line-up.
Tickets for Saturday’s Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver final are available online and on the door from £8. Doors open at 5.30pm with the first of 12 races on the night off at 6.37pm.
Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver Final: Beaming Isla, Rioja Oisin, Pavilion Team, King Jackson, King Presley, Ballinakill Liam.
