Chris Allsopp hopping from one victory to another, Brittons Empire wins the Betfair Pall Mall
2011 is undoubtedly the year of greyhound trainer, Chris Allsopp, as he hops from one victory to another.
Last week on 28th June 2011 he won the Betfair Pall Mall, second time in a row, with his pupil, Brittons Empire.
Although his winner from last year, Ballymac Ace, could not bring him the laurels he had anticipated, the news of Brittons Empire’s victory is still great.
Allsopp’s assistant, Paul Anderson, said on his behalf, “It’s fantastic to win the race two years on the trot, all be it with a different dog, but it doesn’t matter”.
This victory comes right after another one of Allsopp’s hounds, Express Shuttle, won the Betfair Blue Riband at Hall Green.
Another one of Allsopp’s stars, Head Iton Jason, has established a name for himself by winning the Ladbrokes Stayers Classic, finishing the 595m race in 36.84 seconds.
The fact that this is Head Iton Jason’s sixth high-quality victory in a row just adds to the excitement surrounding Allsopp Kennel this year.
His first race as a trainer was the Coventry Summer Derby in 2003, where he sent Miss Longford, who he had only trained for six weeks.
She ended up in place position not just because of beginner’s luck but also because of Allsopp’s great talent and immense dedication as the times to come would tell.
His first big break came when his hound, Rosshill View, won the £5,000 Midland Flat and then he went on a winning spree as She Said No took part in the William Hill Northern Puppy Derby in 2006 and the following year Mango Tango brought home the £3,000 Maiden Derby Final at Sheffield in 2007.
Later that year, Allsopp’s Rev Counter won the Betfred Eclipse bringing great joy and pride to the Allsopp Kennel.
According to Allsopp himself, his current favourite is Ballymac Ace, winner of the 2010 Betfair Pall Mall and his all time favourite greyhound is several time winner, Jimmy Lollie.
Allsopp is not just a greyhound trainer, he is a greyhound lover.
He has been associated with greyhounds ever since he was a four-year-old boy, watching his father train dogs at Norton Canes and Perry Barr with a keen interest.
By the time he turned fourteen, his love for greyhounds had escalated so much that he became a part-timer for Bertie Gaynor of Hall Green and then joined Gaynor full time after finishing school.
After a hiatus he joined Coventry Stadium and obtained a license. Starting with just four dogs, in less than two years he had a kennel of more than 60 greyhounds.
In 2005 he was offered a place at Monmore and so Coventry’s top trainer moved to Monmore. He is now an almost permanent fixture in the Trainers’ Championship Table.
However, Allsopp’s career has not been a plain field.
He has had his fair share of troughs and crests too. On the night that Brittons Empire won the Betfair Pall Mall, Ten Dollars More suffered a career-ending injury while running the Stayers Classic Championship and had to be retired.
Anderson said that he was very much gutted about Ten Dollars More suffering an injury and retiring.
Regardless of everything there is little doubt that Allsopp is talented, because it is his talent and perseverance that have propelled him towards the joy ride of success.
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