Greyhound News: Charlie Lister's kennel is in red-hot form

Greyhounds News / Editor / 04 March 2009 / Leave a Comment

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CHARLIE LISTER is the man to beat at this year's Betfair Trainers' Championship meeting after his kennel dominated Tuesday's Racing Post Juvenile meeting at Wimbledon.

His victory with Fear Zafonic in the main event plus Ninja Jamie in a red-hot 480m event was as impressive as it was punter-friendly - and the news from the all-conquering Newark handler is both now run at Sheffield on March 17.

Add in the talents to come of Farloe Reason, sprinter Tyrur Hestor and stayer Carbarns Tom, and no wonder that Lister is a warm order to claim glory in the eight-race bonanza on Sky Sports.

MONMORE'S prestigious puppy event, the Midland Puppy Derby, kicks off on Thursday with six heats.

Worth £12,500 to the winner, favourite for the prize is Bandicoot Tipoki, who Charlie Lister trains for Ray 'Rapid Ranger' White. Lister is on record as saying that the youngster is as good as he's trained at this age.

PAT BUCKLEY is a busy man. The famous Irish trainer travelled across to England on Tuesday for the Juvenile meeting at Wimbledon, took the ferry back the next day and is now preparing runners for the Tote Gold Cup at Shelbourne Park.

His runners there include last year's Irish Derby runner-up Slip The Lark.

Buckley's College Causeway remains favourite for this year's Shelbourne classic as connections eye the unprecedented Triple Crown of Scottish, English and Irish Derbys.
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RICKY HOLLOWAY, the man who is leading the Save Our Stow campaign, remains hopeful of seeing greyhound racing re-start at the famous venue.

Negotiations are continuing in the background, but the Essex-based trainer is currently handling the country's most in-form hurdler in Winkys Don.

He registered yet another victory at Wimbledon on Tuesday and is one of the favourites for the Grand National back at the Plough Lane venue in April.

THIS year's TV Trophy returns to Newcastle where it was last staged in 1986.
Then known as Brough Park, the race was won by one of the most famous greyhounds ever to grace the sport in Scurlogue Champ, a dog renowned for his wonder finishes.

The north-east venue is getting excited at hosting the competition, which could be a vintage renewal with the likes of defending champion Flying Winner, young pretender Bubbly Eagle and Gold Jacket winner Lorrys Options all set to star.

TRACKS continue to report good-sized crowds, especially at the weekends.
"Greyhound racing is proving very resilient to the recession," said one industry source. "It remains a value-for-money night out to come to the dogs and people are using the tracks on the days you'd expect. The early part of the week remains a problem."

Crayford have moved to consolidate crowds with a new Friday-Saturday two-night-a-week schedule from next month.

"Mondays have been dropped, although this could be just to maximise any opportunities for showcasing their racenights in betting shops or via the internet. The whole live pictures situation could rapidly change over the coming year," said one source.