Cub reporters are told by their editors ‘your introduction to your story should be – if you had been somewhere, what is the first thing you would tell anybody about an event you have just seen?‘. In the opening round of the Star Sports, ARC & LPS Greyhound Derby 2019, it wouldn’t be Droopys Davy’s impressive fastest time of the night, or the seven Irish winners. It would be THAT RACE. The night that the young Wolfe beat the reigning Wildcat.
It was one of those races where Wolfe announced himself to British racegoers as a very serious Derby threat, while Wildcat only enhanced his reputation with a warning that he remains at the top of his game. Victory will confirm Graham Holland’s belief in his all-conquering team. But defeat won’t phase Kevin Hutton, the Cat was beaten in last year’s first round. The draw was key with Wolfe able to secure the number one route on the rail and racing enthusiasts will be hoping that both have clear passages to meet again in the latter stages of what looks a superb competition.
There was a treble for Holland and doubles for Pat Buckley and Jimmy Fenwick but the winners came from all corners of the British Isles from Shawfield’s Adis Abebba, to East Anglian’s Swan Style and a south coast double courtesy Seamus Cahill and Derek Knight.
As always there were shock eliminations with Brinkleys Poet, Burgess Bucks, Seaglass Tiger and Newinn Missile the most notable.
Click on the individual results to review the action.
