Betting.Betfair

It's undoubtedly one of the highlights of the entire year as the previous year's top six handlers shoot it out over eight races for the honour of being crowned Betfair Trainers Champion. Last year's event went right down to the wire with Charlie Lister's win in the last leg just enough for him to pip Chris Allsopp, with Mark Wallis close up in third. All three are involved again, alongside Seamus Cahill, Nick Savva and Dean Childs, who is a late replacement for Kelly Findlay. Lister's record in the event is unprecedented, having claimed the title on five occasions since 2001, including an incredible victory at Sheffield in 2009 when he won six of the seven legs he contested and was second in the other (he had a non-runner in the remaining leg!). Wallis is twice a previous winner, ...

[u]Prestige Final[/u] [i]T1 Milwards Swaby[/i] Formerly known as Ravenswood Kim, she has won three from three over six bends since arriving from Ireland in October - two of those victories coming from trap one. Beaten only once in her last five races she is one of a few with chances in a race more open than the betting would suggest. [i]T2 Fleeting Image[/i] Corn Cuchulainn winner in Ireland last summer and a highly impressive seven length winner in the heats which potentially gives him four lengths to play with. Would be very hard to beat if able to poach an early lead, but can be less effective from off the pace. [i]T3 Ballymac Iniesta[/i] Broke his Open race duck over six bends at home track Perry Barr last month but on the back foot in the heats after a slow start, which...

[u]Oaks final 21:45 [/u] [i]T1 Boher Princess [/i]Litter-sister to Eclipse third Boher Paddy and Charlie Lister's second string here. She broke better from trap one in the semi-final but moved off and could cause problems for Spinkys Nod if doing the same again. In career best form but would need a big lead to beat these. [i]T2 Spinkys Nod [/i]Only unbeaten finalist and could hardly be in better form after her seasonal rest. Beat big rival Silverview Perky on merit in the semis but will need to trap again from a less favourable draw and avoid middle moving trap one if she's to take the big prize. [i]T3 Droopys Aretha [/i]Has done well to reach this stage having only debuted in September, but looks up against it and may struggle to get a run in between early paced rivals. [i]T4...

[b][u]21:45 Eclipse final[/u] [/b] [i]T1 Mill Bling Bling [/i]Bids for a third Category One victory (and to further enhance his Greyhound of the Year claims) after victories in the Steel City Cup and All England Cup (also from trap one). Readily beaten by Boher Paddy in the first round but has won four from six here and is a greyhound for the big occasion. [i]T2 Ballymac William [/i]Third in last year's final but has run only six times since, gaining a somewhat fortuitous first win of the season in the semi-final. Should be better suited by this draw (runner-up in both previous starts here from trap two), but despite high class form as a youngster has a bit to find. [i]T3 Bowtime Joey [/i]Dropped back to four bends for this after reaching the Yorkshire Leger semi-finals and gained...

[b][u]Yorkshire St Leger 21:45 Doncaster[/u] [/b] [i]T1 Droopys Arshavin [/i]Veteran campaigner for whom this is likely to be his swansong. Has won 11/19 over six bends this year at Belle Vue. Only unbeaten finalist and has been in the first two in nine of his last ten starts. Runner-up to Lonely Boy in Great North Run at Newcastle, but has run this track better than his rival and can reverse form. [i]T2 Native Spree [/i]Strong running litter-brother of ante-post fancy Fleeting Image (eliminated in semi-finals). Got up to force a dead-heat with Lonely Boy in the semis and rates the strongest dog in the field. Has won four of his last seven races but needs further improvement to win this. [i]T3 Lonely Boy [/i]Finished in front of three of these rivals when winning the Great North...

[i][b]All England Cup Final 21:45[/b] [/i] [b]T1 Mill Bling Bling[/b] Impressive all the way win in semi-final after disappointing in heats when maybe distracted. Unsure if trap one is ideal, but may prove to be speed of the speed. Unbeaten win in Steel City Cup in August. Still improving; strong chance. [b]T2 Tudor Prince [/b]Performed heroics to win semi-final and fact he doesn't have to lead to win could be vital here, but very fast on bunny as he proved in heats. 5/5 record in trap 2 a plus especially as other principals not ideally drawn. Price makes him the pick. [b]T3 Longwood Fantasy [/b]Game effort in semi-final defeat to Blue Artisian and can reverse form with draws swapped round. Runner-up to Taylors Sky in Monmore Gold Cup. One win in 9 worrying, but big odds offer...

[b][u]The Coral Champion Stakes final line-up, Romford, 21:45[/u][/b] [i]Trap One: Westmead Maldini (4.3)[/i] Owned by Bob Morton, the man behind plans to return greyhound racing to Walthamstow, and trained by Nick 'Mr Westmead' Savva, Westmead Maldini was a star puppy who is fast becoming a star again over a distance. Knocked out of the Irish Derby on the toss of a coin after finishing third in his second round heat, the St Leger is a long-term target for this half-brother of the mighty Westmead Hawk. Enjoying every metre of this 575m, he is railing well into contention past halfway, so the draw is a good one. [i]Trap Two: Emperor Leon (8.0)[/i] An ex-Nottingham-based runner with Susan Corrigan, who joined Seamus Cahill's kennels earlier this year. Go back through the formbook and...

Despite a somewhat surprising defeat to unconsidered Ballymac Xavi in last week's semi-finals, Droopys Cristian can return to winning ways when it matters by claiming Sheffield's biggest race of the year, the aptly named Steel City Cup. While that defeat remains hard to quantify, Droopys Crisitan's overall Sheffield record bears the greatest of scrutiny, with nine wins from 13 starts, but it's his trap six record at the Owlerton circuit, which had seen him record an unbeaten three from three tally prior to that semi-final defeat, which makes him the dog to beat. With a draw outside slower starting outsider Sporty Fortune, the selection should enjoy a clear run throughout, something that market rival Mill Bling Bling may find more difficult. Kelly Macari's Juvenile runner-up has...

Sunderland's big night of the year looks a belter with four finals up for decision, but solving the two major puzzles, the Classic and Grand Prix, is far from easy with both races overloaded with in-form greyhounds. Undoubtedly a victory for Blonde Snapper in the feature Classic final (21:45) would be the 'fairytale' result with Mark Wallis' charge having fought back from a lengthy injury to reach this stage unbeaten. His credentials look spot on, having clocked the fastest semi-final time, and having reached the Puppy Plate final over the CD last season, the track certainly plays to his strengths. But with early speed, in the shape of sprinter Lampard on his immediate inside, and the unthinkable threat of a further setback - as his trainer has stated 'we have to manage him' I am reluctantly...