"I'm very pleased with him going into Friday. I feel he has drawn to suit, so I just need clear racing room down the back," said Hodgson.
"He's running home stronger than what he ever has."
Northern trainer Steve Clark trekked south with Spud Missile and he returned to his northern base with a 30.44s heat winner.
He exited smartly from the four trap to undertake the pace-making role and he was never headed afterwards.
Spud Missile will attempt to deliver a similar effort after being loaded away into trap three here.
"He must win the jump, although in doing so he could give Kilchurn a nice draw through. He's super for Friday," advised Clark.
Kissing Gwyneth produced her normal gallant effort when she wound up just a length behind Kilchurn for her trainer Lisa Ahern, who qualified four finalists. "Kissing Gwyneth must get across the face of the field from out there [trap six].
"She is really well," said Ahern's husband Brendon Cole.
"Smash Allegro can lead them out from the one [trap], although he isn't strong over the later stages.
"We thought Premier Division went real good in his heat [second] and he can get some of it [stake] with the right type of run.
"Allegro Max is likely to be slow early and cut down to the rail."
Opawa Diesel jumped from trap eight for his heat fourth and he will do so again tonight.
"He's an out and out railer, so drawing the eight has effectively terminated his chances," suggested co-trainer Robin Wales. Completing the drawn field of strictly Kiwi bred greyhounds is the Hayley Mullane-mentored Let's Go Lettie.
It was a huge effort by this girl to qualify, as she was giving away volumes of race experience to her heat rivals.
"I'm very proud of my girl getting into the final. She can jump, which she must do from out there [trap-seven]," said Mullane.
