Charlie Lister: proud to have triumphed at Yarmouth on Wednesday night
King Charlie sees off Paul Young's gallant challenge
CHARLIE LISTER overcame an early scare and saw off a tremendous challenge from Paul Young to record a sixth victory in the Ladbrokes Trainers’ Championship at Yarmouth.
The pair won seven of the eight races between them and were separated by just a point going into the final leg which saw their representatives dominate throughout. Ultimately it was Lister’s Lemon Pluto who brought the title home as he led early to beat Young’s Bubbly Lucky.
The hare was stopped immediately after the line as Kokoro was being attended to having been brought down at the first bend – it must have been touch-and-go whether the race was halted earlier but track management ultimately made the correct call.
The win meant Lister accrued 55 points to Young’s 51 and he relished the moment. “Yarmouth has always been a favourite track of mine,” said Lister, “and I’ve been very pleased with the way they’ve run tonight.
“It does mean a lot as I’m getting a bit old now and it’s nice to take all these young 'uns on!”
Lister had picked up just five points from the first two legs, but Silverview Pinky and Fear Emoski then won back-to-back races to get him back on track.
Silverview Pinky led from halfway to take the bitches’ contest over 462m in 28.14sec, while Fear Emoski made a stunning six-bend debut as she accounted for a high-class field over 659m and led home St Leger and TV Trophy champion Blonde Reagan by three lengths in 40.90sec.
And Farloe Tango emulated his kennelmate when making a successful first start over six bends in the other 659m division.
Young had got off to a flying start by taking the first two races beginning with a dramatic victory in the puppy contest through Underground Paul.
All eyes were on odds-on Golden Wonder in trap one but, ironically, he found an arguably even closer railer diving across him in the shape of Garryglass Rodge and was basically out of contention straight away.
Monmore Puppy Derby winner Cluxtons Free raced clear but Underground Paul took a shorter route on the inside and forged clear from the final bend to win by two lengths in 28.00sec.
And Young was in the winner’s enclosure again immediately after his Racing Post Juvenile runner-up Jaytee Hellcat outstayed Daddys Knowsbest to score in 28.13sec.
Just as Lister appeared to have matters in hand, Young’s Juvenile third Teejays Bluehawk popped up in the penultimate leg when beating Lister’s favoured Alien Planet to set up that last race decider.
Barrie Draper fielded a depleted team and predictably struggled to make any overall impact but his Farloe Barracuda did impress in the sprint open, showing his rivals a clean pair of heels to the bend and going on to beat Lil Risky in 16.19sec, equalling the track record of Monleek Town.
