/ The Lord / 06 May 2011 / Leave a Comment The Derby gets under way at Wimbledon on Friday
"Lister is looking to make it six English Derby wins to move ahead of legendary handler Leslie Reynolds... "
Derby gets underway in South West London, Mullins is back in the big time and Sky head for Hove on Tuesday. All this and much more from the Lord's Greyhounds News wrap...
Boher Paddy heads the betting at [9.2] for the Derby which kicks off at Wimbledon on Friday.
This week's deadline for entries for the £75,000 Classic saw 149 entries taken by the south London track, almost a quarter less than 12 months ago. The entry list oozes quality if not quantity with a strong Irish challenge led by Dolores Ruth's Razldazl Jayfkay, while Boher Paddy will lead Charlie Lister's charge on the event.
Lister is looking to make it six English Derby wins to move ahead of legendary handler Leslie Reynolds, also on the five Derby wins mark. Lister, of course, won last the Derby last year with Bandicoot Tipoki.
The draw for the split first round - Friday and Saturday next week - will be made at Wimbledon on Sunday
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Knockies Hannah returned trainer John Mullins to the big-time with victory in the TV Trophy final at Sittingbourne on Wednesday.
Coming out best in a thrilling tussle with Minnies Penske, the well-backed daughter of former Mullins star Maxie Rumble justified strong support in grabbing the £6,000 prize.
It meant a major trophy again for Mullins, whose last success came in the Steel City Cup in 2008 with Blonde Dino. However, that particular presentation turned sour for the trainer when the winner was sold to Ricky Holloway and immediately switched kennels.
This victory was sweeter in that Knockies Hannah was home-bred at John and Debbie's kennels in Suffolk.
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Sky Sports' next port of call is Hove on Tuesday for the final of the Regency. Blonde Fletch is currently trading as favourite at [1.86] after clocking the fastest semi-final time on Thursday as he bids to follow up his Queen Mother Cup success with victory in the 695m feature.
His chief rival for the prize is Bower Hawk, who looks for belated compensation after looking all over the winner of last year's Betfair Yorkshire St Leger final, until a last-bend tumble when just about to hit the front robbed him of the spoils.
Tuesday's programme from Hove will kick off at 19:30.
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Talking of Hove, the Sussex track will see the next appearance of Droopys Greg
The dog trained by Nick Savva for Sky's Gary Newbon was beaten for the first time in a while at Sittingbourne on Wednesday as he stepped into all-aged company for the first time.
As a puppy he won the Midland Puppy Derby and had been well-backed for the Derby at Wimbledon until connections re-routed to Hove for the upcoming Sussex Cup before a crack at the Irish Derby.
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More televised greyhound racing could be in the offing. The details remain sketchy but two parties are looking at screening nightly greyhound racing into the homes of UK and Ireland-based greyhound fans.
"The Irish authorities are keen on beaming some of their top-class Shelbourne cards into the UK," said one source yesterday. "The Dublin tracks have a strong betting market, which would be a requirement for any service - and Saturdays at Shelbourne for example are immense."
A team of four or five UK tracks could be used for an additional service to give fans are regular diet of greyhound racing. The major events, however, would remain within Sky's portfolio.
All the top stories from the sport rounded up by The Lord...
Classic contenders prepare for Betfair Blue Riband, Scottish Derby reaches semi-final stage and the battle of E17 hots up (again)......
One of the most recognisable faces in the sport could lift its biggest trophy...
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