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.
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