Betfair Trainers Championship: Lister triumphs on great night for greyhounds racing

General / Editor / 21 March 2009 / Leave a Comment

The Lord runs the rule over last Tuesday's Betfair Trainers' Championship...

Charlie Lister first, the rest beaten out of sight. That pretty much sums up the 2009 Betfair Trainers' Championship at Sheffield.

But that does not detract from what was 1) a brilliant night's racing and 2) a great showcase for the sport and those handlers involved.

It was high-quality racing, producing some stirring performances, and plenty of clues as we build steadily towards the Classic season. Don't forget, the Scottish Derby kicks off later this month and the English Derby at Wimbledon at the end of April.

Looking at the Sheffield races and, away from the Sky cameras, Coolavanny Smoke ran away with the opening 480m race. For the future it's a shame his form will show 'track record' on a night when four track records were set. It might affect the price! But it was a cracking performance from Paul Philpott's dog, who looks open to improvement after time off the card.

The aforementioned maestro of the training game, Charlie Lister, sent out a nice sort in Tullymurry Kiara to win the puppy race. Her all-round pace was terrific, but also take out Mountjoy Jasper from the race. A half-brother of the likes of Mountjoy Star and Mountjoy Ruby, he battled very well to finish third and is improving.

There is no question that sprint winner Tyrur Hestor is out of the top drawer and showed as much in the sprint, but in terms of 'dogs to follow' kennelmate Tyrur Kirk goes in the notebook. Yet another Lister-trained runner he stayed on strongly over 500m and was well clear into the pick-up. Well, well clear.

Droopys Zach and Tyrur Rodge had a grand old battle over six bends and both will not be easily beaten, while Ninja Jamie was his awesome self over four bends. But take note of Seamus Cahill's Corrig Count here. He took off down the far side, a run reminiscent of his more well known litter brother Corrig Vieri.

Take nothing away from Thurlesbeg Joker after he blitzed the track record in his race, but give the runner-up Windy Millar credit. He ran a great bend but could not hold a dog who has far more knowledge of the contours of Sheffield and both should continue to frank the form of what was a good race.

Carbarns Tom took his chance well in the top division of the six bend event, but the ones to keep tabs with are Live Money and Vatican Jura. Both ran great races, the latter never giving up, while Live Money showed great pace before blowing up.

And while Farloe Reason rightly earned the plaudits to cap a great night for trainer Lister in the top 500m division, Boherna Best ran with credit at a track where he had never run before.

It was also a like-for-like from the Juvenile with Lister holding sway over Draper and Boherna Best, as he did with Fear Zafonic, but the runner-up stumbled out of the boxes and connections will be more than happy as they count down to Wimbledon.

Dogs to follow:

Tullymurry Kiara
Mountjoy Jasper
Tyrur Kirk
Corrig Count
Live Money
Vatican Jura