Sky Dogs: Blonde can Fletch the Regency home for Wallis

Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 10 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Mark Wallis can land another big prize tonight

"Blonde Fletch proved an early lead is not a necessity when winning his first round heat from off the pace. That said, it’s not hard not to see him dominating, as he comfortably accounted for neighbour Rancey Beauty, from the same traps in the semi-final"

Blonde Fletch has proved a revelation since stepping up to six bends and can add Hove's Regency - live on Sky Sports tonight - to his recent 'Queen Mother' victory says Darrell Williams.

One of two unbeaten finalists, Mark Wallis' Blonde Fletch will take plenty of stopping if he's not to claim the Category One prize after two emphatic victories to reach this stage.

A winner of six of his eight races since stepping up beyond 600m in February, including the 'Queen Mother' at Sheffield last month, he proved an early lead is not a necessity when winning his first round heat from off the pace. That said, it's not hard not to see him dominating, as he comfortably accounted for neighbour Rancey Beauty, from the same traps in the semi-final, while red-jacketed Droopys Start will be making her bid from off the pace.

While Blonde Fletch deserves to be a short-priced favourite, the race has plenty of strength in depth with strong-running St Leger runner-up Bower Hawk also unbeaten in the preliminaries likely to deliver his usual big finish. He rates an obvious forecast choice, or an alternative for those not prepared to back at odds-on.

Lorrys Options deserves great credit for reaching another Regency final, two years after he claimed the prize, but while Dean Childs' runner may just come up a shade short this time around, kennelmate Droopys Start, only just denied by Bower Hawk in the semis, holds realistic claims of springing an upset. The winner of a four-bend bitches competiton at the track last summer, she has proved an excellent commodity since stepping up to six bends and has failed to make the top three only once in a dozen tries.

With enhanced prize money on offer, it's not a surprise that the support card is even stronger than usual; with red hot hurdler Sizzlers Spirit rated the best bet of the night in the 20:15. Beaten only once in eight races over the CD, Norah McEllistrim's charge came from an impossible position to beat a high class field at Sittingbourne on Sky last week, and despite the presence of Irish National winner Junior Mac - who set new figures for the track-record here last summer - is not for opposing.

Sleeping Urban, best known for spoiling Jimmy Lollie's record-breaking attempt for the most wins in a calendar year last December, can take his winning sequence over the 285m trip to six by taking the 20:00. While the presence of in-form Lode Explode in trap one must be respected, Brian Clemenson's sprinter clocked his fastest time so far when accounting for two of tonight's rivals last week and is worth staying with.

2010 Olympic winner Ballymac William can return to winning ways over that CD- where he has won six out of eight - by taking a classy looking four bend contest at 21:25. Now under the care of Dean Childs - Carly Philpott having joined the team - he should be much sharper after last week's comeback run following a five month absence. Likely favourite Droopys Greg looks one to oppose at short-odds after a disappointing run at Sittingbourne last week.

Minnies Penske, denied TV Trophy glory by a strong-finishing Knockies Hannah last week, can extract her revenge by winning the marathon at 21:10. Twice a winner over six-bends at Hove, Tony Collett's bitch may prove more difficult to dislodge this time at a track that clearly suits her.

Former Brighton Belle winner Paradise Alexus might be worth chancing in the 'Ladies' race at 20:50 despite enjoying no sort of luck on her comeback run last week. Four times a winner at the track, her sprint trials coming into that race looked sharp, and she can account for Oaks third Rebellious Queen, who will need to step up on recent trials having not raced since February.

Selections (in order of preference)

Sizzlers Spirit 20:15
Sleeping Urban 20:00
Blonde Fletch 21:45
Ballymac William 21:25
Minnies Penske 21:10
Paradise Alexus 20:50

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Sky Dogs Tips: Lister can edge out Wallis in Championship battle

Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 21 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Who will be first across the line at the Betfair Trainers' Championship?

"Two years ago Lister swept the floor with his rivals with a remarkable six winners, and with the likes of Bandicoot Tipoki, Boher Paddy and Jordansoilutions in his team, it will be a surprise if he doesn’t register multiple winners, while Rayvin Neasa and Romeo Daddy Cool should also score highly"

Mark Wallis grabbed a vital final leg win to snatch last year's Betfair Trainers' Championship, and has plenty of strength in-depth in a bid to retain his crown - live on Sky Sports from Wimbledon on Tuesday night - but Darrell Williams just thinks Charlie Lister's 'big guns' may prove too tough to overhaul.

Derby final night aside, the Betfair Trainers Championship is the most exciting greyhound meeting of the entire year as the top six trainers from the previous year battle it out in a points based competition.

And if one thing is for certain after the eight-leg event, it's that the winner will have earned it.

Four-timer winner Charlie Lister, who's not been out of the top two in the last six years, looks a worthy favourite with a host of big name greyhounds set to score heavily - the competition's format rightly places most emphasis on winning races, with a 10-6-4-3-2-1 points scoring system.

Two years ago Lister swept the floor with his rivals with a remarkable six winners, and with the likes of Bandicoot Tipoki, Boher Paddy and Jordansoilutions in his team, it will be a surprise if he doesn't register multiple winners, while Rayvin Neasa and Romeo Daddy Cool should also score highly.

Mark Wallis, who was adding to his 2006 victory (also at Wimbledon) when nosing Lister out in the final leg at Doncaster last year, once again looks the main danger to his perennial rival, with a team boasting perhaps as many as seven high scoring members. The two six-bend legs could easily fall his way with Blonde Fletch and Kinda Easy holding strong claims, while both Blonde Snapper and Destroy The Camp have the potential to upset Lister hotpots.

Of the remaining handlers, Chris Allsopp appears the most likely to cause an upset, and could score heavily early on with both Fifis Rocket and Express Shuttle, in legs two and three both with realistic chances of bagging the maximum ten points.

While I fully respect Mark Wallis' team, which offers some value at around [4.0] I still believe Charlie Lister will prove too strong and make him the bet at [2.2]. while a back to lay bet on Chris Allsopp, with the suggestion to 'get out' after leg three, might also be worthy considering.

As regards the individual races, I rate Bandicoot Tipoki (21:10) as the night's banker. The Derby winner - who's worth adding to your portfolio for this year's race - overcame even tougher rivals on Juvenile night three weeks ago (and at an amazing SP of 6/1!), and looks well berthed in his favourite Wimbledon trap three box.
Yet to finish out of the first two in seven races at the track (including five victories), he could benefit if fast-starting Blonde Snapper and Lethal Freds come together early on.

Jordansoilutions (20:50) proved himself back to his best when also scoring for Lister on the same card, and having provided maximum points for his handler in last year's Trainers Championship is fancied to repeat the feat if, as expected, he can clear early paced rival Young Vicarious and make it four wins in his last five starts.

Fifis Rocket, formerly King Lee, is now with Chris Allsopp and is fancied to win a below-par sprint (20:00). While his strike rate is generally poor, he excels over the Wimbledon 273m, dishing out a near six length beating to his rivals at the start of the month, and can account for lightly-raced youngster Romeo Daddy Cool.

In most years we'd be hailing Express Shuttle as the Midland Puppy Derby winner, but Chris Allsopp's classy youngster had to succumb to the incredible strength of Droopys Greg in last week's Monmore final. However, compensation should await in the 20:15, where the selection's excellent early speed can snuff out the chances of early paced rivals Allisons Delight and Mountjoy Moon.

Blonde Fletch has hit form with a vengeance since stepping up to 600m and can make it four wins on the spin by claiming the stayers' heat at 21:25, where his early speed can see him make all.

Selections: (in order of preference)

Lister to win Trainers Championship
Bandicoot Tipoki 21:10
Jordansoilutions 20:50
Blonde Fletch 21:25
Fifis Rocket 20:00
Express Shuttle 20:15

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