Collett hoping retiring Joker has the last laugh.

TONY COLLETT is hoping for one final hurrah on the track from Lenson Joker, who bids to end an illustrious race-career in trademark winning style at Romford tonight, writes Richard Birch.

The trainer said yesterday: "I've been lucky enough to have handled some good dogs over the years, but Lenson Joker would definitely be the best I've trained.

"I owe him an awful lot. He's given me some great moments. You never stop learning in this game, and I've learnt a lot from him.

"There's been a good bond between us. He tells you when there's a problem. He's a proper greyhound."

Lenson Joker received the ultimate honour of Greyhound of the Year for 2008, and Collett added: "He was top-class over four bends, and it was no real surprise what happened when he went over six.

"There have been many highlights, but his victory in the Champion Stakes last year was probably the most memorable.

"He won his three races in the competition by an aggregate of 22 lengths. There were decent dogs around at the time, but that was a measure of his superiority.

"Obviously he also made a major contribution to the best night of my life when he won the William Hill Grand Prix at Sunderland and Lenson Express landed the William Hill Classic.

"It'll be sad to see him go, but he's not going far - initially at least. The plan is to go to Chris Cronin and have straws done - then he'll come back to me each time. Nick Savva does that as well.

"I'd love to see him go out with a win. It would have been even better if he could have made the final of the Champion Stakes - that was very much the plan - but it just wasn't to be.

"He's turned four, and I felt last week that a yard of pace to the corner was beginning to disappear.

"Retiring him is the right thing to do now."

CAPTION(S):

Lenson Joker