Greyhounds Betting: Lister hot fave for Betfair Trainer's Championship

Events / Joe Dyer / 12 March 2009 / Leave a Comment

The battle lines have been drawn. The teams have been announced. The countdown to the 2009 Betfair Trainers' Championship begins here...

The six trainers involved in what is a canine shoot-out of the highest order have unveiled their teams for eight races which will thrill the Sheffield crowd and viewers live on Sky Sports on Tuesday.

Decided on a points basis, each of the six trainers involved - Seamus Cahill, Barrie Draper, Charlie Lister, John Mullins, Pat Rosney and Mark Wallis - provide a runner each in a puppy race, a sprint, two stayers' races and four standard distance races.

And the news from the Charlie Lister is that Ninja Jamie, one of the favourites for the Derby, is only in 'division c' of the 500m races. But when you think that former track record holder at Sheffield, Farloe Reason, and last week's Juvenile Championship sensation Fear Zafonic represents the maestro in the top divisions of the four-bend events, it becomes understandable that Lister is a red-hot favourite for the title.

Lister has been trialing and racing his dogs on a regular basis at the Owlerton track to get them accustomed to the contours of the venue, and he rates an odds-on chance to claim the title won last year by Seamus Cahill.

The top six trainers in last year's Trainers' Championship qualify for the Betfair-backed competition, and Cahill is back to defend his title.

Barrie Draper will have his team led by Derby contender Boherna Best and will be fancied by many to play a part in most of the races, given that he is a former Sheffield-based handler.

Pat Rosney has Shadayid leading his four-bend team, but will be keen to monitor the progress of star puppy Mar City Two who makes his eagerly awaited six-bend debut in division b of the stayers events.

Mark Wallis is the current champion trainer and sends out Corrig Vieri to lead his four-bend stars, fresh from winning the Arc at Swindon.

John Mullins will be pinning hopes on top-class Droopys Carvalho over six bends, while Seamus Cahill sends out Raving Black to lead his squad.

The trap draw will be made during racing at Sheffield on Friday.

Tuesday's races (not in trap order):

500m Division A
Raving Black (SC), Boherna Best (BD), Farloe Reason (CL), Droopys Tarzan (JM), Shadayid
(PR), Corrig Vieri (MW)

500m Division B
Paradise Santana (SC), Thurlesbeg Joker (BD), Fear Zafonic (CL), Courts Ad Andy (JM), Windy Miller (PR), Eye Onthe Brave (MW)

500m Division C
Corrig Count (SC), Killough Bullet (BD), Ninja Jamie (CL), Rogully Boy (JM), Hondo Spartan (PR), Directors Chair (MW)

500m Division D
Gilbeyhall Rock (SC), Killough Belles (BD), Farloe Merlin (CL), Noelles Rapido (JM), Maltese Force (PR), Roswell Startrek (MW)

Sprint
Cool Cashin (SC), Glenroe Ginger (BD), Tyrur Hestor (CL), Confident Kermit (JM), Pennylane Flash (PR), Goldcest Lord (MW)

Puppy
Carden Bert (SC), Farloe Firefox (BD), Tullymurry Kiara (CL), Mountjoy Jasper (JM), Jethart Joy (PR), Goldies Destiny (MW)

Stayers A
Live Money (SC), Cats Whiskers (BD), Carbarns Tom (CL), Droopys Carvalho (JM), Vatican Jura (PR), Butterbridge Ali (MW)

Stayers B
Heavy Weather (SC), Lissycasey unch(BD), Tyrur Rodge (CL), Capel Tom Dooley (JM), Mar City Two (PR), Droopys Zach (MW)