Tyson in the right form to deliver a knockout punch at Cambridge on Friday night

Bookies are taking no chances with Tyson at Cambridge on Friday night, opening him a $3.20 favourite despite the colt facing higher rated opposition.

But, as Lincoln Farms co-trainer Ray Green puts it, while there are a couple of tidy horses in the fifth race, Tyson’s form is superior.

In his last start, at Auckland on December 13, Tyson (R44) finished just half a neck and a length behind classy R60 pacers Chase Me and Youretheonethatiwant, the 1700 metres run in a 1:56.5 mile rate.

Tyson (Blair Orange) warming up for his last start when he ran a terrific third at Auckland.Parked for the last 1000 metres, Tyson was clocked over his final 800 in 55.9 and 400 in 27.9. With Chase Me just sold for big money to the Gary Hall stable in Perth, that form stacks up very nicely.

Tyson was also in great form in his previous run at Alexandra Park, pacing 2:41 for 2200 metres when three-quarters of a length second to talented stablemate Sugar Ray Lincoln, coming from second last and running easily the fastest last mile of 1:57.1.

Freshened since his last race a month ago, Tyson had a hit-out at the Pukekohe workouts last Friday, co-trainer Nathan Delany in the cart and liking the way he finished off the heat, albeit fifth of the five runners.

Last in the running, Tyson lost no ground on the winner, R59 pacer Always Flyin, who reeled off closing sectionals of 55.1 and 27.3 to clock an overall 2:33.9 for 2050m, a slick mile rate of 2:00.7.

Green said it was a good, fast workout, albeit on the newly resurfaced track which “is as good as any racetrack now.”

Top driver Zachary Butcher takes the reins on Friday night and Tyson leaves from gate three, from where he should get a nice run. The top two rated horses, Aye Aye Captain ($5.50) and Always B Stunning ($7) are drawn in the two outside alleys.

Onyx Shard, centre, has drawn to get a good trip in the last race.Butcher also drives Onyx Shard, whom Green rates a chance in the final race, the mare third equal favourite at $7.

After three runs in a new campaign, Onyx Shard is hard fit and, after leading, was gobbled up only in the last few strides in her last appearance on the course.

Drawn three, she should get every chance again unlike Lincoln La Moose ($14) who will need plenty of luck from gate five in the second race for junior drivers.

Delany takes the reins and will be looking to secure a better trip than the horse has had in his last two starts.

Lincoln La Moose was trapped three wide for the entire journey last start, yet still battled on well at the finish. And two starts back, he was caught at the back of the field on a slow speed, unable to make ground when the sprint when on.

“Hopefully he lobs and gets a good trip,” Green said. “If he does, he won’t be far away. If he’s left in the open, he over-races but, with a suck trip, he’ll come on at the finish.”