SHADOW STORM has a chance to become just the fourth greyhound to win back-to-back Scurry Gold Cups when he lines up in Saturday’s £12,500-to-the-winner Arena Racing Company-backed sprinters’ showpiece at Dunstall Park.

On a night the track at Wolverhampton Racecourse is also staging the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks Final for a huge double-header, Richard Rees’ champion two-bend performer, the reigning GBGB Sprinter of the Year, lines up as one of two finalists for the Hove trainer in a competition which has been upgraded back to Category One status this year.

“Well done to all for making it a Cat One. It’s back to where it always should have been,” said Rees. “So hats off to Dunstall Park. I know their racing manager Martin Seal was keen to get it back up there and we know he’s a great supporter of what we’re doing. He introduced the Dunstall Dash this year for the sprinters, too.”

Dunstall Park have been rewarded with a brilliant final and Rees understands only the best will do from both of his runners and is happy heading into the final.

“Look, we all know about sprints. There are fine margins and you can lose it in a split second unlike four and six bends when you’ve got a chance to recover. In a field of six brilliant sprinters we know only the best will do – for any of them.

“Of course it’d be nice to defend the title and he’s a greyhound who owes us nothing. He’s got a chance, but so, too, has Avarua Lake. He’s always been in the shadow of Storm as such, but is a very fast dog in his own right. We’re looking forward to it.”

Avarua Lake raced into the lead round the first bend in last week’s first semi-final when leading home Arc Silver Salver winner Ballinakill Liam (Mark Wallis) by a length in 15.86sec (-5), before Michelle Brown’s prolific-scoring Roanna Mamba edged out Magical Jason (Kevin Hutton) in the second semi-final, stopping the clock in 15.73sec (-50.

The third and final semi-final went to the Rees-trained Shadow Storm who set the standard when hitting the front between the first and second turns before drawing away for a length and a quarter success over Newinn Souly in 15.66sec (-5).

 

Photo: © Steve Nash