Going in for the Kill

BALLINAKILL LIAM (9.11) can edge King Presley in tonight’s feature event at Central Park, the Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver Final.

- by JONATHAN HOBBS

The longstanding sprint competition, first run at Southend in 1933 when known as the Thames Silver Salver, has been staged in Kent since 2002 and tonight’s live-on-Premier Greyhound Racing showpiece over 277m offers a first prize of £12,500.

The Silver Salver is the UK’s only Category One sprint event and was won last year by the late Bill Russell-trained Magical Bluebear who went on to be crowned GBGB Sprinter of the Year at this year’s GBGB Awards. Bill’s son Mark now has the trainer’s licence, incidentally.