English Greyhound Derby Final gives Charlie Lister his fifth title
The Williamhill.com English Greyhound Derby reached its final climax last night as Wimbledon staged the final of greyhound racing’s most anticipated race on the calendar. After a blistering four weeks, it was none other than the star of the opening round Bandicoot Tipoki who took care of business when it really mattered.
Any Charlie Lister trained greyhound would always look likely in standing every chance to winning a Derby final. The victory marked Lister’s fifth title which equals the record of Leslie Reynolds and also makes him the leader of most Derby successes at Wimbledon.
It was a magnificent achievement from the Nottinghamshire based handler who had been having a rough start to the year missing out on the Betfair’ Trainers’ Championship and also producing no winners at Shawfield in the Bettor.com Scottish Derby – but surely an English Derby success and the £75,000 prize puts it all in the past.
Lister said: “I never gave up. After the semis, I felt he was the best dog in the race, and he proved it.”
Owner Ray White added: “Charlie might not have given up, but I had. I wasn’t even sure after the line. It was fantastic, the race of a lifetime.”
Tipoki was drawn with trap three, a trap in which he originally set the track record (28.26sec) until it was beaten by the Dolores Ruth favourite of the night Toomaline Jack in the third round.
Two lengths covered the field and Bandicoot Tipoki, in the dying strides, forced his head in front for a half length victory over Hungarian raider Lyreen Mover in 28.57sec.
Everybody on the night, connections and punters, winners and losers, were left shaking by the adrenalin rush from one of the all time most exciting races.
It now seems possible that Bandicoot Tipoki will go for the Ladbrokes Irish Derby which is set to commence in August and boasts a first prize of €120,000.
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