Mick Smith, currently at Belle Vue is to be the new racing manager at Doncaster.
Mick has a wealth of experience, mostly with the GRA. He was at Hull until its closure last summer, when he returned to Belle Vue – where he had previously been racing manager. He said ” I’m pleased to be joining the set-up at Doncaster, I already know a number of the trainers from my days at Hull and am really looking forward to it”

During the difficult period created by the departure of racing manager Richard Munton, General Manager Yvonne Freeborn has been pleasantly surprised by the cooperative and helpful attitude of her colleagues at neighbouring track Kinsley. She said ” I would like to thank all my friends in the industry  that have been so helpful – particularly John Curran at Kinsley. He has been a tremendous support by loaning us Andrew Mascarenhas to keep things ticking over until Mick has worked his notice at Belle Vue”

Charlie Lister: “settled in well”

PICTURE: Steve Nash

JEAN JEANNIE, the top Australian bitch now with Charlie Lister, is unlikely to make her British debut at Tuesday’s Betfair Trainers’ Championship meeting at Doncaster despite going well in qualifying trials at the south Yorkshire track.

The October 2007 bitch improved from an initial 30.37sec effort over the 483m course to an even 30.00sec last weekend, but the fact that latest trial was a solo rather than an intended three-runner affair has led to a rethink on Lister’s behalf.

“She still needs two three-runner trials to qualify so it looks as if the Trainers’ Championship is out,” admitted the handler. “It might be no bad thing because there’s no point in rushing her just for the sake of it. She’s been off for a few months after picking up a slight injury in her last race in Australia.

“I’ve had her a few weeks, but she only had three hand gallops before her first trial so won’t be near being fully fit yet.
“She’s settled in really well, seems a nice bitch with good pace, and I’ve been pleased with the way she’s handled everything, especially the outside hare.

“Sometimes when a greyhound has been used to chasing an inside hare they can course it a bit and run wide, but she’s been railing.”

Jean Jeannie won two Group Aged Classics in her homeland – over 515m at Angle Park in South Australia and over 570m at Horsham in Victoria.

Full article

Team Lister hit form ahead of Championship

DONCASTER, who host the Trainers’ Championship live on Sky Sports next week, staged three Open races on Tuesday evening offering trainers the opportunity to have some of their ‘big guns’ flex their muscles around the Meadow Court circuit.

First up were the sprinters and Seamus Cahill’s win-machine Jimmy Lollie took care of business justifying odds of 1-3 to make all in a useful 16.89sec.

The first of a brace of 483m Standard events saw Charlie Lister’s Bandicoot Tipoki sent off a red-hot 1-4 favourite. The June 2007 son of Crash didn’t get on top until the the third bend but strode out well to beat the staying-on Raving Black by 1 1/4L in 29.62sec.

Greyhound Of The Year Fear Zafonic went to post for the 9.44 and made a welcome return to the winner’s podium. Breaking well from the red box, he was always in command beating a game Dalcash Scolari by 3/4L in 29.55sec.

** There was a very busy trial session before racing for which all six trainers for next Tuesday’s Championship took the chance to acclimatize some of their top dogs.

Charlie Lister clearly has his team in great form and his Droopys Belletti was fastest of all with a stunning 29.39sec solo spin. Lister also had both Farloe Leeand Tyrur Speedy clock 29.59sec in their trials, a time also equalled by Barrie Draper’s Eden Dom.

Mark Wallis sent round Derby favourite Eye Onthe Storm in 29.61sec and current Derby Champion Kinda Ready produced a very pleasing 29.65sec.

full article at http://www.racingpost.com/news/greyhounds/team-lister-hit-form-ahead-of-championship/692727/

Doncaster are building up nicely to the Betfair Trainers’ Championship on March 23. The south Yorkshire venue are to stage a host of opens in the weeks leading up to the big event so that the six competing trainers have plenty of time to accustom their runners, and shape team tactics, ahead of the shootout.

Charlie Lister romped home in last year’s Betfair-backed showpiece at Sheffield – remember his six winners from seven runners? – and has a good record with his runners at Doncaster.

He sent out Carbarns Tom to finish second in last year’s Yorkshire St Leger and the same dog, who won a leg at Sheffield for Lister 12 months ago, could well be back again.
Lister takes on Seamus Cahill, Barrie Draper, Chris Allsopp, Dean Childs and Mark Wallis, with each handler represented by one runner in each of eight races over two, four and six bends.

Doncaster to host Trainers’ Championship
By Richard Birch RacingPost.com 9:26AM 9 JAN 2010

DONCASTER will host the Betfair Trainers’ Championship on March 23, the first time the prestigious competition has been held at the south Yorkshire circuit.

It is a welcome new year boost for Doncaster, who have applied to stage the Sky-televised meeting for the last three years. Yvonne Freeborn, the track’s general manager, said: “We are thrilled to be holding the Trainers’ Championship.

“Doncaster has had two successful Sky meetings in recent times [2008 TV Trophy and last year's Yorkshire St Leger], and we will pull out all the stops to ensure everyone attending has a wonderful time.”

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin explained: “We always believe in letting the professionals make the decisions. So when the Greyhound Trainers’ Association recommended Doncaster as their number one choice, there was very little doubt that’s where we were going on March 23. Other opinions were canvassed before the green light was given, but all the feedback was positive.

“The venue and date for our annual Betfair Trainers’ Championship lunch will hopefully be announced later this month, after all the relevant guests have been consulted.”

John Haynes, organiser for the GTA, commented: “The Trainers’ Championship is a travelling show and we like to stage the meeting at different venues. The main criteria for the meeting is a good gallop, and Doncaster certainly is that.”

Sky producer Dave Lawrence said: “I know the trainers rate the circuit and the management at Doncaster have always been very positive and helpful the two times we have been there before. The track comes over well on TV, too; it is a good choice.”

Champion trainer Mark Wallis is in full agreement. “Doncaster did an excellent job with the Yorkshire St Leger last year, and it’s a good, stiff test of a greyhound,” he said. “It should suit my four-bend runners Eye Onthe Storm and Kinda Ready, while our stayers Droopys Zach and Kinda Easy both reached the Leger final there.”

Chris Allsopp, who will be taking part in his first Trainers’ Championship meeting, said:”It’s fantastic news for Doncaster, and I’m happy, too. We had a few winners there last year, so bring it on!”

He added: “I’m very excited to be involved for the first time. The lads here all worked ever so hard last year to make it possible. We will give it our very best shot, and I’m sure we’ll give a good account of ourselves.”

Charlie Lister, who produced one of the all-time great training performances to land the competition at Sheffield last year – sent out a remarkable six winners and a second from his seven runners – by a mammoth 29 points from Wallis, could be able to call on the likes of four-bend stars Bandicoot Tipoki, Fear Zafonic, Jordansoilutions, Tyrur Lohan and Yahoo Jamie, who each figure prominently in ante-post betting for the William Hill Derby.

The other trainers participating this year are first-timer Dean Childs, 2008 hero Seamus Cahill and Barrie Draper.

Racingpost.com

Sunday 14th March 2010

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