Andrew Bell, who trained 109 winners at Richmond in 2020, has qualified with four of the eight finalists in Friday night's Kevin Waters Towing Cannonball at his favourite track.
Bell has Good Odds Rebel in box one, Lenny Cortez in three, Barcia's Wish in five and former Victorian Sizzle Fly in box six.
In last week's heats the Jason Mackay-trained Straight Shift set the time standard for the 400m trip, leading throughout in 22.41 and posting the quickest first split of 8.08.
Not far behind was Trevor Jansen's Been Around, who led all the way in 22.56 after carving out a slick first section of 8.09.
Hudson Bolt, trained by Peter Tobin, led virtually throughout to win the other heat in 22.81 with an 8.28 opening split.
"Of my quartet I think my best chances are Good Odds Rebel and Sizzle Fly,'' Bell said.
"Good Odds Rebel is obviously the best boxed runner while I think Sizzle Fly will be improved by the run when he finished third in his heat.
"The heats probably came up a week too early for him and while I don't know a lot about him yet, I think he might be suited drawn wide.
"If they jam up over towards the rails Sizzle Fly could be the dog to get the run down the outside.''
Bell revealed the time-honoured Cannonball is a race he has always wanted to win.
"I used to go to watch the Cannonball as a seven year old and back then it always attracted big crowds and was worth $10,000 to the winner,'' he said.
"It remains one of short course racing's prestige events and especially considering the quality of the field this year.
"My bitch Canya Lilly finished third in last year's Cannonball final behind Johnny Miles' pair of flying machines Laurie's Flyer and Blue Bronte.
"So with four of the eight starters on Friday I get my best chance ever this year.''
Straight Shift has earned favouritism as he is not only fastest qualifier but is undefeated in three Richmond 400m appearances.
Formerly with the Peter Lagogiane kennel and now with Jason Mackay, Straight Shift has won 24 of his 37 races and at Richmond, where most of his racing has been done over 330m, his record is an astonishing 11 wins and two seconds from 14 starts.
Been Around, who had box four in his heat and will wear the blue rug in the final, has experience on his side when it comes to negotiating the tricky 400m start at Richmond.
Trevor Jansen's dog has contested 19 races over the Londonderry course's 400m trip and boasts an impressive record of nine wins and five placings.
"He led all the way from box four in his heat but Been Around is going to need a bit of luck from that draw in the final,'' Jansen conceded.
"But he usually comes out good so it all depends on the start.
"After Richmond I am going to give Been Around a post-to-post at WP on Tuesday to start building him up to 520m.
"I gave him a post-to-post at Richmond when he was younger but he tore his stomach muscles and was out for six months so when I brought him back I started him off in short races.''
Been Around is a litter brother to Jansen's classy Seen Around, who has won four races over 520m at Wentworth Park and has box three in a heat of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg on Saturday night.
