Greyhound Racing

Greyhounds News / The Lord / 02 September 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Jordansoilutions is another Lister contender in the Betfair-sponsored East Anglian Derby

The Lord brings another bulletin from the world of greyhound with updates on the Irish Derby and Betfair East Anglian Derby amongst other juicy titbits

“Fear Zafonic, the defending Betfair East Anglian Derby champion, heads into his defence at Yarmouth in scorching form. Charlie Lister’s dog posted a fastest-of-the-year 27.79sec in winning over course and distance last week and will be joined in the event by kennelmate Jordansoilutions.”

Mill Pinpoint landed his young trainer Kelly Macari a first Category One success at Sheffield on Tuesday, courtesy of the track’s oldest event, the Steel City Cup, backed by Betfair.
In a terrific live-on-Sky final, with fantastic business reported both by the sponsors and the track itself, Mill Pinpoint, who had drifted in the run-up to the final, led into the bend and held all-comers at bay. Elwick Chris and Was Not Me both closed up the run-in but the Sunderland dog was not for catching.

Conor Fahy, the 22-year-old son of leading owner/breeder PJ, still looks to hold the aces as the Irish Derby reaches the semi-final stage at Shelbourne Park this weekend.
Fahy trains Tyrur Big Mike, now down to [3.8] to land the 120,000 euros prize on Saturday week (September 11), as well as fellow impressive quarter-final scorer Tyrur McGuigan.
However, Saturday’s semi-finals feature a ‘heat from hell’ with market leaders Tyrur Big Mike, Tullymurry Act, and Thurlesbeg Joker.

Fear Zafonic, the defending Betfair East Anglian Derby champion, heads into his defence at Yarmouth in scorching form.
Charlie Lister’s dog posted a fastest-of-the-year 27.79sec in winning over course and distance last week and will be joined in the event by kennelmate Jordansoilutions.
The latter won Lister a third select Stakes at Nottingham last week after winning a vote between him and Farloe Titan for the last place in the Nottingham line-up.
It was a decision that has caused somewhat of a controversy with Farloe Titan’s Arc success at Swindon in February unable to sway the Greyhound Writers’ Association, who voted in favour of Jordansoilutions.
“And it looks as if the GWA might have got it right because Jordansoilutions won the Select well,” said one source, but he warned: “But there’s a growing sense around the place that they might have got it wrong by ignoring a Category One winner.
“The hope is Farloe Titan goes on to win the Champion Stakes at Romford, and lets the Press off the hook!”

The next Sky meeting is the Champion Stakes final meeting on Wednesday, September 8, followed by the Betfair East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth a week later.
And the Yarmouth event, for which Fear Zafonic heads the entries, kicks off on Saturday with eight heats over 462m.
Among the big clashes in the heats are Charlie Lister’s Yahoo Jamie against last weekend’s Kent Derby winner Sparklee Bernie (Seamus Cahill) in heat three, while Fear Zafonic opens up his defence in heat two.

The Lord was first with the exclusive, but it really does look like greyhound racing will be staged at Towcester Racecourse next year.
The latest edition of the Greyhound Star suggests that talks between Towcester management and members of owners, trainers and breeders group, GOBATA, are at an advanced stage.
Towcester could now join Dundalk as a dual-purpose stadia, with horse and greyhound fixtures, and it is something other horserace venues have looked at, including Kempton.

Tags: Betfair East Anglian Derby, Conor Fahy, Fear Zafonic, Kelly Macari, Mill Pinpoint, Steel City Cup, The Lord, Towcester, Yahoo Jamie

Greyhounds News / The Lord / 02 September 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Jordansoilutions is another Lister contender in the Betfair-sponsored East Anglian Derby

The Lord brings another bulletin from the world of greyhound with updates on the Irish Derby and Betfair East Anglian Derby amongst other juicy titbits

“Fear Zafonic, the defending Betfair East Anglian Derby champion, heads into his defence at Yarmouth in scorching form. Charlie Lister’s dog posted a fastest-of-the-year 27.79sec in winning over course and distance last week and will be joined in the event by kennelmate Jordansoilutions.”

Mill Pinpoint landed his young trainer Kelly Macari a first Category One success at Sheffield on Tuesday, courtesy of the track’s oldest event, the Steel City Cup, backed by Betfair.
In a terrific live-on-Sky final, with fantastic business reported both by the sponsors and the track itself, Mill Pinpoint, who had drifted in the run-up to the final, led into the bend and held all-comers at bay. Elwick Chris and Was Not Me both closed up the run-in but the Sunderland dog was not for catching.

Conor Fahy, the 22-year-old son of leading owner/breeder PJ, still looks to hold the aces as the Irish Derby reaches the semi-final stage at Shelbourne Park this weekend.
Fahy trains Tyrur Big Mike, now down to [3.8] to land the 120,000 euros prize on Saturday week (September 11), as well as fellow impressive quarter-final scorer Tyrur McGuigan.
However, Saturday’s semi-finals feature a ‘heat from hell’ with market leaders Tyrur Big Mike, Tullymurry Act, and Thurlesbeg Joker.

Fear Zafonic, the defending Betfair East Anglian Derby champion, heads into his defence at Yarmouth in scorching form.
Charlie Lister’s dog posted a fastest-of-the-year 27.79sec in winning over course and distance last week and will be joined in the event by kennelmate Jordansoilutions.
The latter won Lister a third select Stakes at Nottingham last week after winning a vote between him and Farloe Titan for the last place in the Nottingham line-up.
It was a decision that has caused somewhat of a controversy with Farloe Titan’s Arc success at Swindon in February unable to sway the Greyhound Writers’ Association, who voted in favour of Jordansoilutions.
“And it looks as if the GWA might have got it right because Jordansoilutions won the Select well,” said one source, but he warned: “But there’s a growing sense around the place that they might have got it wrong by ignoring a Category One winner.
“The hope is Farloe Titan goes on to win the Champion Stakes at Romford, and lets the Press off the hook!”

The next Sky meeting is the Champion Stakes final meeting on Wednesday, September 8, followed by the Betfair East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth a week later.
And the Yarmouth event, for which Fear Zafonic heads the entries, kicks off on Saturday with eight heats over 462m.
Among the big clashes in the heats are Charlie Lister’s Yahoo Jamie against last weekend’s Kent Derby winner Sparklee Bernie (Seamus Cahill) in heat three, while Fear Zafonic opens up his defence in heat two.

The Lord was first with the exclusive, but it really does look like greyhound racing will be staged at Towcester Racecourse next year.
The latest edition of the Greyhound Star suggests that talks between Towcester management and members of owners, trainers and breeders group, GOBATA, are at an advanced stage.
Towcester could now join Dundalk as a dual-purpose stadia, with horse and greyhound fixtures, and it is something other horserace venues have looked at, including Kempton.

Tags: Betfair East Anglian Derby, Conor Fahy, Fear Zafonic, Kelly Macari, Mill Pinpoint, Steel City Cup, The Lord, Towcester, Yahoo Jamie

Greyhounds News / The Lord / 23 August 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Fear Zafonic out front

Greyhound of the Year set for reappearance in Betfair East Anglia Derby at Yarmouth, according to insider The Lord

“Fear Zafonic was back by the seaside last week as he plundered the Carling East Anglian Challenge, the perfect warm-up for his return for the Betfair-backed Derby over 462m.”

Kinda Ready is just three races away from history after the 2009 English Derby winner won his third round heat of the Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
Mark Wallis’s star, who is being trained in Ireland by his rearers Ian and Brenda Seymour, is bidding to become only the second dog ever to win an English and Irish Derby after Toms The Best did the feat in different years in the late 1990s. No dog has ever won the two competitions in the same year.
He now goes in the quarter-finals at the Dublin venue at the weekend and is sure of mighty support as hundreds of UK-based racegoers get ready to fly out to Ireland for the latter stages to cheer him on.
However, among his quarter-final rivals on Saturday, are hotpots Tyrur Big Mike, Thurlesbeg Joker and Mesedo Blue, and connections will just be hoping for qualification.
Betfair’s greyhound commitment steps up a gear over the next few weeks with the Betfair Steel City Cup, which reaches the semi-final stage at Sheffield on Tuesday, and then the Betfair East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth next month.
Heading the betting for Sheffield glory are Mill Pinpoint and Magna Venturer, who renew rivalry again in the semis after Kelly Macari’s Mill Pinpoint beat the Draper dog in the heats.
Charlie Lister also holds a strong hand in the semis, with his trio of Farloe Lee, Was Not Me and Deerfield Sam all in tip-top form just now. The first three in each qualify for Tuesday’s Sky final.

Meanwhile, Fear Zafonic, whose omission from the Sheffield line-up surprised many, has instead been renewing his association with Yarmouth.
It was at the east coast track last year where the Greyhound of the Year probably secured the top honour as he led home a one-two-three for handler Lister.
Fear Zafonic was back by the seaside last week as he plundered the Carling East Anglian Challenge, the perfect warm-up for his return for the Betfair-backed Derby over 462m.

Sky’s live greyhound programmes resume after a short break on Thursday with the Select Stakes from Nottingham.
The richest one-off race in the UK, it was won last year by Windy Millar who is back to defend his crown after showing a distinct return to form for Pat Rosney in the last few weeks.
Hot favourite for the £7,500 spoils is Blue Artisan, the Gymcrack winner who was an unlucky-in-running second in the Gold Cup final at Monmore on Friday.

Finally, the Save Our Stow campaign is ready to turn the screw on site owners London & Quadrant.
The word on the street is that another march is being planned, this time on L&Q’s offices in a bid to force the housing association into selling the land to bidder Bob Morton.
Morton, who is understood to be one of Britain’s most successful businessmen, has table a bid for the site of greyhound racing’s one-time premier venue.
But as yet there has been a muted response from L&Q, with a short statement released last week asking for more details of the bid. This has angered SOS’s campaign leaders.
One SOS source said: “The bid is credible. It involves housing and a leisure complex including, of course, the one thing that remains synonymous with Walthamstow, greyhound racing.
“L&Q have a responsibility to return the track to the people of Walthamstow and we will be calling on them and the greyhound industry to make their feelings known.”
Politically, the SOS stance is strong. It has major support in the House of Parliament from the likes of Pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith, local MP Stella Creasy and new Labour MP and huge greyhound fan Ian Lavery.

Tags: Betfair East Anglian Derby, Betfair Steel City Cup, Fear Zafonic, Kinda Ready, Nottingham, Save Our Stow, Yarmouth

Greyhounds News / The Lord / 05 August 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

The money has come for Tyrur Big Mike as the third leg of greyhound racing’s triple crown – the Irish Derby – gets under way

“Tyrur Big Mike has been the subject of sustained support in the lead up to the Irish Derby and punters will not have to wait long to see for Conor Fahy’s dog, who goes on the first of three nights of first-round-action.”

Eyes down for the Irish Derby, which kicks off on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week.
The third leg of greyhound racing’s triple crown, some 140-plus entries are going for gold in the richest race around – and the betting suggests the 550 yards event is as wide open as ever.
There is no College Causeway in the line-up after the great dog’s retirement, but quality abounds, especially in the Champion Stakes first and second, Makeshift and Tyrur Big Mike.
Tyrur Big Mike has been the subject of sustained support in the lead up to the Irish Derby and punters will not have to wait long to see for Conor Fahy’s dog, who goes on the first of three nights of first-round-action.
For good measure, Champion Stakes winner Makeshift, trained by Dolores Ruth, also goes on the first night where he tackles evergreen bitch Skywalker Queen, twice an Irish Oaks finalist and winner of the bitches’ Classic in 2009.
Dundalk International Definate Opinion, who missed the Champion Stakes in favour of going straight to the Derby, runs for Pat Guilfoyle in Friday’s batch of heats, while star of the show on Saturday looks to be Shaneboy Lee and much-touted Tyrur Lohan.
UK interest this year is based around the likes of Liz McNair’s 2009 English Oaks champion Shaws Dilemma, and a host of former UK-based runners, including the likes of Farley Blitz, Westmead Logan, Westmead Grant and the 2009 Derby champion Kinda Ready.

Rotar Wing has done something few thought likely by qualifying for the final of the Peterborough Derby.
With no Jimmy Lollie around, Rotar Wing would be champion sprinter but trainer David Pruhs took the decision to step up his star performer to a short four bends.
He is not blessed with huge stamina, but did well to qualify after not even leading in his semi-final and connections will be hoping for a smash break come Saturday’s decider.
However, leading the opposition to the local hope will be two runners from in-form Seamus Cahill’s kennel, Tearaway John and Fierce McHugh. as the Kent-based handler looks to improve his Trainers’ Championship standing. Read on.

Seamus Cahill drew level with Mark Wallis in the Trainer of the Year tussle after landing the Puppy Derby final with Rayvin Giovanni at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
And the winner, together with kennelmate Droopys Oscar, already gives Cahill a huge hand in the betting on the 2011 Derby!
Plans for the pair now include the Puppy Classic at Nottingham for Droopys Oscar and the Northern Puppy Derby at Newcastle for Rayvin Giovanni.

Greyhound racing’s ruling body could be heading for a clash over prize-money with the GRA.
It follows the decision of the Birmingham track to stage opens worth just £125 each.
The races do not count for Trainers’ Championship points and one handler yesterday called for other trainers to boycott such events.
“There should be an industry-minimum of £150. That’s the level needed for Trainers’ Championship points and it’s disgraceful that opens can be allowed to stage for such pitiful sums.
“There are graded races at some of the better tracks that offer better prize-money, and what this says about the GRA’s treatment of those who work in the sport is just laughable.
“They should be told by the GBGB now that they can’t do it again.”

Yarmouth begins the countdown to the Betfair East Anglian Derby with heats of the Challenge on Monday.
It kicks off a busy period for the go-ahead track – the new home of champion trainer Mark Wallis who is now supplying runners there – with a six-week-long festival leading to the £20,000 gala final night, backed by Betfair, on Thursday, September 16.

Tags: Betfair East Anglian Derby, Irish Derby, Mark Wallis, Peterborough Derby, Rotar Wing, Seamus Cahill, Tyrur Big Mike, Yarmouth

Greyhounds News / The Lord / 31 July 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Wimbledon hosts Tuesday night’s Puppy Derby, live on Sky

Master trainer Mark Wallis will have three runners in next Tuesday’s Puppy Derby at Wimbledon, plus news from Shelbourne Park, Hove and Towcester

“Blonde Snapper (28.45) was the fastest of the three Puppy Derby semi-final winners as he came through a ‘clash-of-the-titans’ heat which included fellow hotpots, the Seamus Cahill-trained pair of Droopys Oscar and Rayvin Giovanni.”

Mark Wallis will be three-handed in Tuesday’s next Sky extravaganza at Wimbledon after Blonde Snapper, Blonde Ross and Kinda Razzle all made it through to the final of the Puppy Derby.
Blonde Snapper (28.45) was the fastest of the three semi-final winners as he came through a ‘clash-of-the-titans’ heat which included fellow hotpots, the Seamus Cahill-trained pair of Droopys Oscar and Rayvin Giovanni.
Trapping well and making the bend as Rayvin Giovanni swung off in behind, Blonde Snapper was soon away from that rival and favourite Droopys Oscar, who could never quite reel in his kennelmate for second and thus crashed out.
Taylors Cruise (28.83) made the trip down from his Durham base worthwhile for trainer Ted Soppitt by winning the second semi from Wallis’s Blonde Ross, while one of British breeding’s most cherished players, Dave Firmager, weighed in with first semi-final winner Romeo Spartan (28.57).
He made all from Kinda Razzle, Wallis’s ‘third string’ in the final.
Trap draw for Tuesday’s decider, with possible starting odds: 1 Kinda Razzle ([21.0]), 2 Taylors Cruise ([8.0]), 3 Blonde Ross (m) ([18.0]), 4 Rayvin Giovanni (m) ([3.2]), 5 Blonde Snapper (m) ([1.7]), 6 Romeo Spartan (m) ([4.2]).
* Betting.Betfair will have tips from Darrell Williams and The Lord ahead of Tuesday night’s action.

Entries for the Irish Derby are being accepted by Shelbourne Park ahead of the event kicking off at the famous Dublin venue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
As ever, a huge entry is anticipated for the third leg of greyhound racing’s Triple Crown, although neither Scottish Derby winner Nambisco (injured) or English Derby champion Bandicoot Tipoki are among entry.
Among the favourites for the Classic roll of honour include two ex UK-based runners, the former Barrie Draper-trained runners Thurlesbeg Joker and Farley Blitz.
Still owned by the Draper family, of course, they are being trained in Ireland by Owen McKenna.
Thurlesbeg Joker won the Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park earlier this year, beating a certain Toomaline Jack, while Farley Blitz was a fast-finishing third in the Champion Stakes final over the Derby course and distance last week.

Steve and Tony Race, who bred, own and train Head Iton Ellis, are still celebrating success in the Sussex Cup at Hove on Tuesday.
A place in the Select Stakes at Nottingham is now on the cards followed by a crack at the All England Cup at Newcastle, an event where he reached the final behind Boherna Best 12 months ago.
Beaten joint favourites at Hove, Deanridge Rage and Ballymac William, could be Betfair East Anglian Derby-bound after connections of both eschewed the chance of Irish Derby glory.

The Irish Grand National is will have one less UK challenger this year after news broke that Sizzlers Spirit injured himself in finishing second in a hurdles open at Hove on Tuesday.
He had reached the final at Harold’s Cross last year while based in Ireland and connections of the now Norah McEllistrim-trained runner were hoping to make it across the water after his good showing in last month’s English Grand National final at Wimbledon, where he finished third behind Plane Daddy and Nebuchadnezzar.

Rumours are still dong the rounds that Towcester Racecourse will carve out a link with the sport of princes very soon.
While building a brand new greyhound circuit at the racecourse has not been ruled out, the rumours could be linked to a suggestion that the track could stage greyhound races behind a drag lure.
Such events proved very popular during the Cheltenham Festival a few years back and talks have been held about staging similar events at other horseracing venues, Towcester and Kempton both being mooted.

Tags: Betfair East Anglian Derby, Blonde Snapper, Farley Blitz, Head Iton Ellis, Irish Derby, Irish Grand National, Mark Wallis, Puppy Derby, Sizzlers Spirit, Sussex Cup, Taylors Cruise, Thurlesbeg Joker, Towcester, Towcester Racecourse, Wimbledon