Silver Salver semi-finals preview
Henlow will host three Silver Salver semi-finals Thursday night. The top two hounds from each race will advance to £4000 final on 11 November.
Silver Salver 1st Semi-Final
Westmead Melanie will race from trap one; she’s currently at 3-1, and will be one of the favourites to win the race. She’s done well at Henlow, rarely finishing outside of the top three when racing there.
In trap two is Dalcash Scolari, the current favourite with 7-4 odds. He hadn’t raced at Henlow since July of 2009 before he made a triumphant return on 28 October, beating Melanie by three lengths.
Droopys Master is another one punters should be aware of. Master is one of trainer Seamus Cahill’s hounds, and poses a threat for that reason alone. He’ll race from trap three.
Bourne Masons will go from the fourth trap. He doesn’t win consistently, and will have a difficult time getting into one of the top two spots in this one.
Westmead Palace is in trap five, and should be the long-shot in this race with current 10-1 odds. Wins are few and far between for this veteran racer.
In the sixth trap is Torbal Galileo. He’s been racing in A1 and open races recently with mixed success.
Silver Salver 2nd Semi-Final
Directors Spur has 3-1 odds, behind only Raving Black who currently has even odds. He won at Henlow on 14 October and 28 October. He knows the track and seems to like it, but beating Black will be a big challenge. He’ll go from trap one.
Fabulous Effort, at 10-1, will need more than a fabulous effort to win this race. She’s earned quite a few wins recently, but not against competitors of this calibre. She’ll race from trap two.
In trap three is Farloe Dasher, a consistent top three finisher. Most of his recent races have been A1 races, and Dasher could easily finish in the top three in this race.
Raving Black is in trap four, another of Cahill’s dogs. It will take a missed break or a collision of some kind to keep Black out of the Silver Salver final.
In trap five is Skyscape Star; he’s another 10-1 long-shot, and one that punters should overlook in this race.
Ocean Star will challenge for a spot in the top three from trap six. He hasn’t won very often in recent races, and the competition in this one is tough, but he should be in the running for third place.
Best bet: Raving Black is the favourite and a Cahill hound - that combination is difficult to ignore.
Silver Salver 3rd Semi-Final
Bridge Bond is one of many long shots in the third semi-final, currently at 10-1. He’ll go from trap one, and has a few wins from that trap, but he’s not likely to add to that total on Thursday.
Westmead Osprey is a heavy favourite in trap two. He’s a winner, and should have little difficulty winning this race.
Barnfield Rockey will race from the third trap. He consistently finishes in the top three, and could very well be in the Silver Salver final.
In the fourth trap is Trade Appollo. After winning three in a row in September, Appollo has done little to impress. He’s a 10-1 long-shot in this race and probably won’t pay off.
Goldies Destiny could be destined for the final after breaking out of an eight race win-less streak in his last race. He’ll race from trap five.
In the sixth trap is All The Noise. He’s won three of his past seven races, and while he’ll probably not be able to beat Osprey, a top three finish is a distinct possibility.
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