2013: WILLIAM HILL.COM DERBY at WIMBLEDON.

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BUBBLY PHOENIX and Bubbly Lucky are back on course for the William Hill Derby after being given the all-clear following injuries sustained last month.

The Paul Young duo had wrist and shoulder ailments respectively but have already begun galloping. “They’re fine now and we can crack on with them,” said Young. “We’ll give them a bit more work at home with the intention of them having solo sprint trials at Wimbledon on Wednesday week.

“That should give us enough time, all being well, to get them ready for the Derby although obviously you wouldn’t want any more setbacks at this stage.”

There was not such good news from Seamus Cahill, who confirmed that Guinness Spark misses the Classic with a two-to-three months lay-off after coming off lame from a trial at Plough Lane. The June 2011 whelp, so impressive when winning at Kinsley, has a metatarsal stress fracture of the hock.

Cahill said: “It’s so disappointing for the owners and, while it’s obviously a significant setback, he’s young and we’re hopeful he’ll be make a full recovery.” He had been rated a 66-1 chance by the sponsors.

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THIS year’s William Hill Derby will be televised live from start to finish after Racing Post Greyhound TV clinched a deal to broadcast the first two rounds of the premier Classic.

Sky Sports had previously agreed to show the third round onwards in an arrangement which, via SIS, for the first time also included getting the latter stages of the Derby into all betting shops.

Jennie Prest, Hill’s sponsorship and PR manager, said: “Having the whole of the 2013 William Hill Greyhound Derby televised opens the competition up for punters and greyhound fans alike to follow the complete Derby story, from the very first heat to finals night.

"It’s a great opportunity to showcase the sport to the widest ever audience and our thanks goes to everyone who has made this happen. We are looking forward to working with RPGTV to put on four great shows for the first and second rounds.”

Clive Feltham, MD of the GRA, the operators of Wimbledon, added: “With every round televised, no one need miss a second of this thrilling competition. Its unrestricted format definitely make it the greatest greyhound race in the world.”

It all starts on Friday May 31, with the final on Saturday June 29. The Derby closes to entries on Wednesday May 22.

Prize-money has been steadily increased under Hills backing, and this year’s winner will receive £150,000, £25,000 more than in 2012. Entries cost £250.

The hike had already seen a surge of Irish interest, and news that all the action can be viewed in Ireland will further encourage connections of potential challengers based there.

With the Ladbrokes Scottish Derby final (Saturday May 4) also being shown on RPGTV, plus having recently extended broadcast nights on a trial basis with Wednesdays through to Sundays, it is an exciting time for the station.

This December sees the second anniversary of free-to-air access via Sky channel 212, Freesat 401 plus streaming at racingpost.com and partner websites. It was established by the Racing Post in partnership with bet365, Betfair, Coral, Hills and Ladbrokes.

The William Hill Derby first round, which is unlimited as all qualified entries are accepted, is staged Friday May 31 and Saturday June 1. There is a provisional arrangement for a third night, Thursday May 30, if needed. The second round, which involves 16 heats, is Friday June 7 and Saturday June 8. Normal RPGTV racing from Sunderland (Friday) and Newcastle (Saturday) will be switched to Wimbledon for these nights.

The third round, the last 48 is Saturday June 15 – which is when Sky Sports takes over, but RPGTV will be able to show later recordings of all the action.

Kevan Moretti, executive producer of RPGTV, said: “This means a debut for Wimbledon on RPGTV and, with the likes of Shawfield also appearing through the Scottish Derby, it is wonderful for us to be able to broaden our coverage with such big names.”

Clive Lawrence, producer of RPGTV, added: “It means yet more exciting times for RPGTV as we add the first two rounds of the William Hill Derby to our portfolio.

“It will be great to see the early action of our premier Classic as we will witness the favourites attempting to consolidate their position at the head of the market and inevitably we will unearth a previously unconsidered ante-post outsider that will catch the punters imagination.”

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Matt Dartnall: trialling Derby contender Isabels Boy at Wimbledon



Irish ace Isabels joins Dartnall for Derby spin



ISABELS BOY, runner-up to Razldazl Luke in the Irish Puppy Derby final at Harold’s Cross last year, begins his William Hill Greyhound Derby preparation with a 273m solo trial at Wimbledon on Wednesday.

The October 2010 dog last raced when third behind Priceless Sky in the SIS Live Gold Cup final at Shelbourne in early March when trained by Gary Silcock. He has subsequently switched to Swindon handler Matt Dartnall and is a 33-1 chance with the sponsor for the £150,000 Derby.

Others due to trial at Wimbledon's Wednesday session include Alison Ingram’s progressive Regal Bailio over 480m and Chris Allsopp’s Monmore Puppy Derby champion Cluxtons Free in a sprint.

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Wimbledon stadium: home of the Greyhound Derby




Sponsors cut Lister pup Jack for Derby glory




SIDAZ JACK was quickly supported in the William Hill Derby betting as an opening quote of 66-1 from the sponsor about Charlie Lister’s youngster was clipped into 40-1 a matter of hours later.

The move came on the back of a very smart trial before racing at Nottingham on Monday when the June 2011 dog, easy winner of his only race at Galway last November, recorded a best-of-session 17.79sec (normal) to shade kennelmates Lemon Pluto (17.84sec) and Golden Wonder (17.96sec).

“I’ve had him about three months and he did a couple of really fast sprint trials at Nottingham when we first trialled him,” said Lister of Sidaz Jack yesterday. “But he knocked himself at the pick-up in the second of them so we gave him plenty of time off.

“I think he’s a really nice little dog and certainly have the Derby in mind for him even though he lacks experience. He's booked for a sprint trial at Wimbledon on Saturday along with Lemon Pluto.”

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Dolores Ruth less likely for a Wimbledon raid


DOLORES RUTH, whose assaults on the competition have been a major feature of recent William Hill Derbys, now feels it is “very unlikely” she will be travelling to Wimbledon this year.

The Irish handler, successful in 1996 with Shanless Slippy and who has gone close with the likes of Razldazl George, Razldazl Jayfkay and Toomaline Jack more recently, had indicated that Razldazl Rioga was a possible challenger this time around but said yesterday: “It looks very unlikely that I’ll be able to make Wimbledon now.

“I’ve the first of my greyhounds going out to Australia in a few weeks and I’m very busy preparing everything with that in mind. Some of the timings have changed and I just can’t see myself having the necessary time to commit to Wimbledon.

“The Australian project is very important to me going forward and that has to be my main focus at the moment.”

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Alien Planet: won over the Derby course at Wimbledon last night...




Kisses returns 28.33 in pre-race Don trial



ALIEN PLANET was fastest of the two William Hill Derby trial stakes winners at Wimbledon on Saturday, clocking 28.48sec despite being bumped early as the inside runners bunched.

Charlie Lister's dog edged ahead at the first bend, then drew clear for a near five lengths win in 28.48sec.

Malbay Pahnter took Division B for Dean Childs, leading early in 28.59sec and scoring by a length from Lightning Speed.

In trials before racing, Kisses For Cloda, a finalist in March's Kirby Puppy Memorial at Limerick (was second favourite, bumped early behind Roxholme Bully), caught the eye with a 28.33sec spin. The May 11 dog, sent by John Butler to Paul Donovan, flew out and clocked a 4.73 sectional. He beat Head Case (crowded first) by over eight lengths.

Dean Childs's Droopys Ed Moses, who has not raced since December, picked up kennelmate Droopys Loner on the run in, winning by a length and a half in 28.65sec

Droopys Keith also wn a trial in 28.71sec.

In sprint solos, Lemon Pluto clocked the fastest with 16.16sec; Rio Torino 16.25sec and Sidaz Jack 16.29sec

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My 4 for this years Category One competition.


BALLYMAC ESKE @ 7/1.

SHANEBOY ALLEY @ 25/1.

LEMON PLUTO @ 33/1.

TEEJAYS BLUEHAWK @ 40/1.

EACH WAY 1/4 ODDS FIRST 6 PLACES.