Eclipse Betting: Old master Lister comes in triple-handed

Events / Darrell Williams / 09 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

Darrell Williams looks at the ante-post betting ahead of Nottingham's Eclipse.

If nothing else, late night winter opening of betting shops has ensured greyhound Open racing fans have never had it so good with a regular supply of top action beamed into your local office.

And if you pop in this Monday night you'll catch the six first round heats of the Eclipse from Nottingham which is oozing with quality in a competition in which I confidently expect the cream to rise to the top.

Arguably that's no better illustrated than by the presence of Irish Derby semi-finalist Wise Thought, whose return to these shores was greeted by an eight length romp in a trial stakes two weeks ago. Your may recall that I put Martin White's runner forward as a long term Derby suggestion last month and this is his first opportunity to live up to those lofty expectations! Having first caught the eye with a rapid 27.49 win at Wimbledon in a supporting race on Derby final night, I have every faith in him, and I confidently make him my main ante-post selection for the three round competition.

Not surprisingly, Charlie Lister likes to run his dogs at the track, given his nearby location in Newark, and the maestro has been rewarded with two Eclipse winners in the past three years courtesy of Clash Harmonica and Fear Me.

The champion's three runners are of the highest order headed by littermates Ninja Jamie and Farloe Reason. The former finished second to Barnfield On Air in the Select Stakes over the same CD, before unleashing one of the performances of the year when breaking the track record in difficult conditions in the East Anglian Derby final. However he has been well beaten in his only two starts since, including when turned over in a trial stakes last Monday. His earlier sprint trials at the track however read well and a trap one draw in his heat (8.19) - he's three from three in the red - should ensure he returns to winning ways.

Long term, however, I prefer Farloe Reason, whose five length defeat of St Leger winner Bubbly Totti in a very fast 29.59 over the trip in August now looks one of the runs of the season. The Blue Riband winner has had mixed fortunes since, and a record of just three wins from ten starts could be better. However, he has won four from five at the track - his only defeat coming when fourth in the Select Stakes - and while his early exits from both the Yarmouth Derby, after clocking a track record in the first round, and the Laurels are a concern - if he is going to win another big race this year it's more likely to be at Nottingham than anywhere else, and I recommend his inclusion in the ante-post portfolio.

Lister's third runner Farloe Merlin is another that excels at Colwick Park, having won on eight of his ten previous starts. I am slightly concerned that the Puppy Classic winner - he went unbeaten through that competition over the CD in August - has just found it slightly harder since losing his eligibility for puppy races last month - as illustrated by a defeat last week. But he looks well drawn in his first round heat (8.04) and at [12.0] I'm happy to include him as an ante-post saver.