Greyhound News: New trainer at Wimbledon?

Greyhounds News / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 15 June 2009 / Leave a Comment

All the latest news from the world of UK greyhound racing...

Sky will be hoping for no repeat of the Belle Vue photo-finish fiasco when the cameras roll into Hall Green for Tuesday's Gymcrack final.

A mistaken result in the puppy race at Manchester venue caused a major furore, with the track eventually having to pay prize-money to both parties, even though for official reasons the result stood.

The puppies-only Gymcrack Championship, won last year by the Charlie Lister-trained Mottos Star, has produced some cracking finals in recent years. Indeed, last year's decider also included Blonde Fern and Boherna Best.

The 2009 final includes not just a runner from Lister's kennel in Farloe Lee, but also from Mark Wallis and Nick Savva.

Current favourite is the Liz McNair-trained Droopys Bogart at [3.5].

Owner Mark Currell of the 'Blonde' prefix had plenty of reason to cheer on Saturday. His redoubtable veteran Toosey Blue won over 475m at Hove, while Blonde Fern continues to fly the flag across the water in the bitches' Classic, the Sporting Press Irish Oaks.

The Blue Riband winner, sent over to Shelbourne after a Derby campaign, finished second in her quarter-final heat at the Dublin venue on Saturday

The John McGee-trained bitch now lines up from trap six in Saturday's first semi-final.

Matt Dartnall, doubly represented in last month's Derby final, will be looking for some compensation when Ballymac Ruso and Glenard Sunrise go for Olympic gold at Hove on Thursday.

The pair were Dartnall's two Derby finalists and, while out of luck then, dominated in their races on Saturday night by winning their respective semi-finals.

Barrie Draper's Magna Venturer picked up the other semi, which means a crackerjack final at Hove on Thursday.

Trap draw: 1 Magna Venturer, 2 Glenard Sunrise, 3 Ballymac Ruso (m), 4 Deanridge Fury (m), 5 Fabulous Quest (w), 6 Corrig Count (w).

Rumours from Wimbledon suggest one trainer is considering his position at the Plough Lane track - raising the possibility of a new addition to the training ranks there.

Monmore kicks off the open-race week with the semi-finals of the Summer Classic, which forms part of the Wolverhampton venue's summer festival.

Three supporting events kick off on Monday over 480m (Dogs and Bitches) and 416m, with a host of talented hounds on show.

Chris Allsopp, the Monmore trainer, is well represented.

Having landed a one-two in last week's Scurry Gold Cup at Belle Vue, Allsopp sends out a decent team for the home challenge and these include ex-Irish speedster Micks Ginger over 416m.

One of greyhound racing's most famous competitions kicks off this week when Newcastle stages the heats of the TV Trophy on Thursday.

In years gone by, the event provided the sport's only live TV coverage, courtesy of BBC's old Sportsnight programme.

Broadcast in recent years by Sky, the TV Trophy once again follows its traditional format with three heats followed by the final on Wednesday week.

Flying Winner may not, however, defend her trophy.Chris Lund is reportedly unhappy with the star marathon performer after back-to-back defeats at Wimbledon.

Her Dorando Marathon conqueror Bubbly Eagle, owned by the Champagne Club, will be among the leading contenders for outright glory.