Greyhound Racing

Greyhounds News / Editor / 09 March 2010 / Leave a comment

The Betfair Trainers’ Championship takes place at Doncaster on March 23

All the latest news from down the dogs including new Wimbledon to be unveiled this Friday, Lister leads the way in build-up to Trainer’s Championship and a Class call for the Derby.

“Charlie Lister remains the trainer punters either want to back or lay for the Betfair Trainers’ Championship at Doncaster on March 23.”

Wimbledon is in the process of re-qualifying its entire kennel strength ahead of the switch to the far side for this Friday’s first meeting at the ‘new’ Plough Lane.

The current grandstand has been closed, a new winning line and stewards’ box erected and the Mick The Miller stand (formerly the popular side enclosure) revamped and refurbished to the tune of £400,000.

“It will be a completely different experience coming to Wimbledon, for sure,” said one insider. “The atmosphere in the ‘new’ stand should be tremendous, although with just one four and six-bend distance being used [480m, 687m], punters have to be careful!”
Wimbledon’s graded distance was 460m with the old 480m distance used for the Derby and one-off opens. “The dogs that were just holding on over 460m will find it a lot tougher. Form students following the trials, or knowing whether certain dogs will stay or not ,could take an early advantage,” he added.

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Charlie Lister remains the trainer punters either want to back or lay for the Betfair Trainers’ Championship at Doncaster on March 23. The former champion trainer, who won last year’s trainers’ meeting at Sheffield easily, will again be the handler to beat and, in trials and races leading up to the big night has given his team plenty of experience at Doncaster.

The likes of Bandicoot Tipoki and Jordansoilutions will lead his four-bend team, while Fear Zafonic, last year’s Derby second, is also waiting in the wings. Lister takes of Mark Wallis, Seamus Cahill, Chris Allsopp, Barrie Draper and Dean Childs in the eight-leg shootout on Sky later this month.

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With a number of surprises in last week’s heats, including the elimination of track-record holder Farley Blitz, the Midland Puppy Derby has a competitive look to it ahead of Thursday’s semi-finals.

Millies Hawk, trained by Carly Philpott for Martin White, was one the most impressive heat scorers and tops the market at 8.2, along with kennelmate Ballymac William.

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Another team of potential backers for the new stadium is expected through the gates of Walthamstow Stadium in the next few days. Key meetings will be held ahead of a possible bid for the site, which continues to be the subject of a power-struggle between its housing association owners, the local electorate hoping for a return of greyhound racing there as part of a multi-leisure arena, and Save Our Stow campaigners.

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Newlawn Class continues to top the betting on the Derby, despite defeat in last week’s Juvenile at Wimbledon. The dog, trained by Pat Buckley, was the subject of a £75,000 bid from the Champagne Club, who have since pulled out of the deal after the Irish raider found trouble in the race.

“They have made inquiries for one or two other dogs, and are anxious to get a ‘Bubbly’ dog running for them in the Classic. But it has to be the right one for their members’ interests,” said one insider.

Eye Onthe Storm is next in the betting, while movers this week include Ten Large Down and the Irish raider Scolari Me Daddy after a weekend trial.
See market.

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Henlow’s decision to resurrect the Grand Prix was rewarded with a high-class entry for Monday’s heats. The event, for years staged at Walthamstow, is Henlow’s first Category One event and good prize-money even attracted two Irish raiders from Paul Hennessy’s kennel.

Hello Hippy struck for Hennessy in one of the heats, but the standard was set by a record-breaking run from Dazzle Special, who stopped the clock in 42.02sec
See market.

Tags: Bandicoot Tipoki, Betfair Trainers Championship betting, Charlie Lister, Greyhounds betting

Greyhounds News / Editor / 03 March 2010 / Leave a comment

All the latest news from down the dogs as star trainers gather in London ahead of Donnie showdown, Derby fav shrugs off Juvenile defeat and Irish delight at the Golden Jacket.

“Last year’s Trainers’ Championship winner Charlie Lister has been trialling his big guns around the track, and the likes of Fear Zafonic, Jordansoilutions and Ninja Jamie will represent him at Doncaster on March 23.”

The countdown to the 2010 Betfair Trainers’ Championship steps up a notch this week with the traditional luncheon in London.

All six trainers for the shootout at Doncaster on March 23 will arrive at the Langham Hilton in the capital for a lunch and media interviews ahead of the head-to-heads at the Yorkshire venue, live on Sky Sports, later this month.

Last year’s Trainers’ Championship meeting was won in handsome style by Charlie Lister, who has already been trialling his big guns around the track, and the likes of Fear Zafonic, Jordansoilutions and Ninja Jamie will represent him.

Lister will be chatting to the likes of champion trainer Mark Wallis, the current Trainer of the Year standings leader Seamus Cahill, Barrie Draper, Dean Childs and Chris Allsopp, the last two appearing in their first trainers meeting.

Childs said: “It’s just a great honour to be be involved. You look at those fantastic trainers who missed out, and who would love to be travelling to London for the lunch. And we’re there because we had such a good 2009.

“And while for a small trainer like me it’s going to be tight to get a team together to compete against the likes of Mark, Charlie, Seamus and Barry, myself and Chris [Allsopp] will give it a go. We won’t be disgraced I’m sure!”

The top six trainers in the overall Trainer of the Year standings qualify for the meeting.
Latest betting here:

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The mantle of Derby favourite heading into March is likely to head the way of Eye Onthe Storm, despite his defeat in the Juvenile Championship at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

Mark Wallis’s dog was bumped out of the taps by eventual winner Ten Large Down, who won an incident-packed race. Newlawn Class came to challenge for the lead at the third bend only to stumble. But the jury is out whether he would have caught Ten Large Down.

For young trainer Diane Henry, it was another great triumph in a short space of time, the Juvenile winner helping himself to a third major win after successes in the Westmead Puppy Cup and Northern Puppy Derby.

One punter said: “Eye Onthe Storm ran a cracker in defeat, as did Shaws Dilemma, who came from a mile off to grab second. But the winner showed he is a good dog, although he definitely took a middle course, a tag he might well take into the Derby.”

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Irish interest in the Golden Jacket proved ultimately successful as Paul Hennessy’s Group Skater ran away with the famous Crayford event on Saturday. And Hennessy’s success could see more Irish interest in the major competitions this side of the water.

A Monmore source revealed there had been an interest expressed by an Irish handler for the upcoming Midland Puppy Derby at the track, which starts on Thursday.

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The new man running the good ship greyhound racing is Barry Faulkner, who takes over as chief executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain in June.

Faulkner, who currently works for BAGS overseeing the greyhound product into the country’s betting shops, will bring vital ‘poacher turned gamekeeper’ experience into the sport.

One insider said: “Barry is from a company which by and large has controlled much of greyhound racing in recent years – ie BAGS. Every track now seemingly wants BAGS fixtures, and the source of income has been vital to some tracks’ survival.

“But there is also a general feeling that the power has shifted too much away from greyhound racing to bookmaker interests. Barry could not use his knowledge to strengthen greyhound racing’s position.”

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Ex-Uk racer Thurlesbeg Joker was the star of the show in Saturday’s Tote Gold Cup heats at Shelbourne.

The former Barrie Draper-trained star, now with Owen McKenna, showed great back-straight pace and is now among the leading contenders for the event, which continues at the weekend.

Tags: Charlie Lister, Greyhounds Betfair Trainers Championship, Greyhounds betting, Greyhounds news