/ The Lord / 07 March 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Which of the six trainers will come out on top?
“We’ve got strength in depth I feel, and we’re running into form at the right time.”
Mark Wallis
"Second only to the Derby in terms of importance to those involved"
Those words, spoken by one handler, sum up what the Betfair Trainers' Championship means to the six trainers - the first six in last year's Trainer of the Year standings - involved. And the 2011 version at Wimbledon on Tuesday, March 22, live on Sky Sports promises to be the best-ever.
Last week saw the annual lunch for the six trainers involved in the shootout. Wined and dined in a south-west London hotel, it provided an early indication as to the strengths and weaknesses of the trainers' teams, eight greyhounds over eight legs - four standard races, two stayers' races, one puppy and one sprint.
Points for finishing first or last in each of the eight races will determine the winner. Last year, Mark Wallis edged out Charlie Lister in a thriller. But it was Seamus Cahill who was victorious when the Trainers' Championship meeting was last held at Wimbledon in 2008.
The teams are not required to Wimbledon's racing office until a few days before the event, but already the handlers are rallying and readying their troops!
Chris Allsopp
Best chances: King Lee, who is now known as Fifis Rocket, will probably go off favourite for the sprint in the absence now of Jimmy Lollie. Express Shuttle, currently engaged at Monmore, looks a hot puppy prospect.
Best outsider: Could he win both the stayers' races? Ten Dollars More and Head Iton Jason are winning races for fun just now. And the recent arrival into the kennel of Westmead Grant will bolster his four-bend squad no end.
Overall chance: "We've got a far better team than was the case last time. We're going for it."
Seamus Cahill
Best chances: Droopys Diver in the puppy and newly arrived Skywalkershearer, plus Lethal Freds and Lethal King in the four-bend races.
Best outsider: Shoemakers Lad might not be in Jimmy Lollie's class, who is? But he nevertheless has plenty of ability for the sprint.
Overall chance: "Jimmy Lollie not running is a blow to us, and the dog himself, of course. The dogs ran well when we were last at Wimbledon. The early races will set the tone."
Charlie Lister
Best chances: Bandicoot Tipoki, as the Derby champ at Wimbledon, deserves huge respect as does Boher Paddy. Jordansoilutions also packs a four-bend punch.
Best outsider: Droopys Alma is on the comeback trail and has always been rated by Lister as a star stayer.
Overall chance: "The kennel was badly held up over the winter, but the dogs ran well at Wimbledon and people will make us favourite I suppose."
Pat Rosney
Best chances: Mickey Robbie, if not engaged in the Arc at Swindon, would be key to his chances in one of the four-bend races. Little Sensation and Little Hawk are other four-bend possibles.
Best outsider: Like Allsopp, his six-bend team of Bower Hawk and Slaneyside Mitch looks decent.
Overall chance: "We don't have an out-and-out sprinter as such, which is not ideal. But I've no complaints elsewhere and we're not making up the numbers."
Mark Wallis
Best chances: Mountjoy Moon in the puppy after almost winning at Wimbledon last month. Brothers Kinda Ready (Derby) and Kinda Easy (St Leger) have run their best races at Plough Lane. Destroy The Camp has also won at Wimbledon.
Best outsider: Blonde Snapper looked a Derby contender before injury and shouldn't be ruled out of one of the four-bend events.
Overall chance: "We've got strength in depth I feel, and we're running into form at the right time."
Paul Young
Best chances: Highly-touted Bubbly Razldazl is a big-money Champage Club purchase and trials show him to be a Derby dog. Droopys Sid, winner of the unraced stake at Doncaster's Sky meeting for Linda Pruhs last year, looks classy too.
Best outsiders: Mercury Peter and Centurion Enry have plenty of six-bend experience and ability.
Overall chance: "We probably go into the meeting as one of the outsiders, but the younger dogs have talent and we've some seasoned winners in the team, too. A good mix."
"Second only to the Derby in terms of importance to those involved"...
Three to be against in the Sky-televised action from Doncaster...
The Sky cameras are at Newcastle for the All England Cup and with a strong supporting card there are plenty of betting opportunities to be had. The Lord selects two likely favourites to oppose...
No comments:
Post a Comment