SOPHIE'S A CHOICE BET.

(From The Daily Star)

Byline: JIM AUSTIN of the RACING POST

NEWLY-CROWNED Champion Trainer Charlie Lister has never been one to rest on his laurels and he makes it clear there will be no let up in 2007. He's sending a van load of runners to Henlow this afternoon and the journey shouldn't be a waste of time. His banker of the meeting will undoubtedly be FABULOUS SOPHIE (5.30), who simply towers above her rivals classwise in the concluding six-bend contest (660m). She should only need to engineer a clear passage early to bring her class and stamina into play from half way. The most interesting of Lister's raiding party, however, is DROOPYS PING OUT (5.00), who could well come into his own now stepped up in distance. While having picked up his share of prizes over four bends, his style of running looks tailor-made for staying trips and he can prove that to be the case by defeating the likes of smart C&D Boxing Day winner Whitegate Jet and Stow raider Amarillo Scholes. Lister is represented in three of the other four opens on the card, and all have obvious chances. On the other hand, his Toms View doesn't score highly in the consistency stakes ...