General / Editor / 16 March 2009 / Leave a Comment

All the talk from the tracks as we look forward to the Betfair Trainers' Championship and more...

One of greyhound racing's biggest nights of the year takes place at Sheffield on Tuesday with the 2009 Betfair Trainers' Championship.

Pitting the top six handlers against each other in an eight-race shoot-out, Seamus Cahill will defend the title he won at Wimbledon 12 months ago against champion trainer Mark Wallis, Charlie Lister, Pat Rosney, John Mullins and Barrie Draper.

All the action is live on Sky Sports, with a puppy race, a sprint, two six-bend races and four divisions of the standard 500m, where the six trainers 'grade' their runners in order of strength.

Charlie Lister is a red-hot favourite at [1.4], while Barrie Draper is seen as having home advantage as a former Sheffield-based trainer. However, his chance suffered a blow on Monday morning with the withdrawal of the useful Killough Belles. Earlier, Tyrur Kirk replaced Farloe Merlin in Lister's team.

As well as the usual markets, on Tuesday Betfair offer a Trainers' Championship outright market, a selection of match bets, multitraps, winning distance and trap challenge.

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Bandit Blue now tops the betting at [5.4] for the Pall Mall which reaches the semi-final stage at Oxford on Thursday.

David Pruhs's dog was an impressive heat winner and has been rewarded with a plum trap one draw in the first semi.

First semi-final: 1 Cagey Jeff 2 Farley Legend 3 Lenson Express 4 Carlsberg Flash (m) 5 Hillcross Orion (w) 6 Soviet Maldini (w)

Second semi-final: 1 Bandit Blue 2 Blindin Bell 3 Star Of Twilight 4 Brickfield Class 5 Droopys Bocelli (m) 6 Astral Bound (m)

Third semi-final: 1 Mountjoy Gold 2 Drink Up Zorro 3 Cabra Fly 4 Cabra Boss (m) 5 Rough Mourinho (m) 6 Lethal Freddie (w).

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Details of this year's Greyhound Derby have been released by Wimbledon.

Entries at £300 apiece are required by the Plough Lane racing office by noon on Wednesday, April 22.

Currently favourite at [13.5] is the Juvenile winner Fear Zafonic who, like both kennelmate Ninja Jamie (19.0) and Boherna Best (18.5) runs at Tuesday's Betfair Trainers' Championship meeting.

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New track record holder Bandicoot Tipoki is a red-hot favourite for the Midland Puppy Derby at Monmore on Thursday night.

Charlie Lister's youngster won his semi-final in a new best time for the 480m at the Wolverhampton venue.

Trap draw for the final with Betfair's latest prices:1 Magna Venturer (7.2) 2 Bandicoot Tipoki (2) 3 Kinda Ready (7.4) 4 Freedom Emma (22) 5 Farloe Lee (m) (4.8) 6 Bush Paddy (m) (7.2).

* * *

The rules of racing have been updated in a brand new publication from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.

Replacing the old NGRC Rulebook, the GBGB Rules of racing has been sent to owners, trainer and subscribers to the GBGB Calendar.

Meanwhile, the GBGB has organised a Question Time-type event at Harlow Stadium on Tuesday, April 21.

Trainers, breeders, vets and media representatives will answer questions of those who attend on all aspects of the sport. Entry is free.

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