BALLINAKILL LIAM heads into Saturday’s semi-finals of the Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver at Central Park as the fastest heat winner after getting to within one spot of the track record with a brilliant performance in the weekend’s heats.

Lining up in the opening heat of the longstanding sprint Category One event over 277m, Mark Wallis’s dog was soon in command and clear of his rivals, crossing the line three and three-quarter lengths in front of King Jackson (Liz McNair) in 16.03sec (-10), narrowly missing out on King Presley’s 16.02sec track record set recently.

The win secured a six-timer for in-form Ballinakill Liam and also initiated a double for the Wallis team after Northamptonshire Sprint finalist Pavilion Team struck in heat three from King Pavarotti (Liz McNair) in 16.25sec (-10).

Next quickest on the clock after Ballinakill Liam was Kevin Hutton’s Arc Scurry Gold Cup champion Rioja Oisin who led at the bend and raced away for a comfortable success in heat four, streaking away for a five and a half lengths win over Oakfield Murty (Chris Gilbert) in 16.21sec (-10).

The other Silver Salver heats were were won by Liz McNair’s kennel Queen Dusty (16.32sec, -10), Michelle Brown’s Roanna Mamba (16.39sec -10) and Ricky Holloway’s Mickys Tribute (16.30sec -10).

Looking ahead to the semi-finals of the only sprint Category One competition in the GBGB Calendar, Central Park racing executive Daniel Rankin feels Ballinakill Liam remains the one to beat to the £12,500 first prize – the final of which has been rescheduled to Saturday, June 28 after the heats were postponed last week due to heavy rain.

Rankin said: “Ballinakill Liam certainly looks a good thing in the second semi-final. I thought he was very impressive to the eye in the heats – and the clock doesn’t lie! It takes a good sprinter to rack up a sequence – there’s no margin for error – so you can’t help but be impressed.

“The first semi-final is a tough heat, for sure. Again you had to be impressed by Rioja Oisin on Saturday – and he’s a very fast greyhound, a class act. You feel Bert Ted and Queen Sinead need to clear each other, which will not be easy, and that could give Oisin a nice run into the bend and onwards.

 

“You feel Pavilion Team is the big favourite in the first semi after what he did on Saturday, but I actually quite like Roanna Mamba here. I thought he ran a really promising first race round the track and should go well.

“Remember it’s the first two qualifying for the final and we’ve got a full book of opens here on Saturday so it promises to be a good night – and we’re building up nicely to the final a week later.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals:-

First semi: 1 Bert Ted, 2 Queen Sinead, 3 Rioja Oisin (m), 4 King Jackson (m), 5 Mickys Tribute (w), 6 Queen Dusty (w).

Second semi: 1 Harlequin Ernie, 2 Mucky Boreen, 3 Coppice Ronnie (m), 4 Tullymurry Dylan (m), 5 Ballinakill Liam (w), 6 King Presley (w).

Third semi: 1 Oakfield Murty, 2 Beaming Isla, 3 Daring Hoffa (m), 4 Roanna Mamba (m), 5 Pavilion Team (m), 6 King Pavarotti (w).