Greyhounds News: Ex-Brum supremo behind Stow bid?

Greyhounds News / Editor / 16 December 2009 / Leave a Comment

"Finally, former Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan has emerged as the man behind a possible bid for Walthamstow."

Classic Glory for McNairs, micro-chipping controversy, Sullivan weighs up Walthamstow bid and much more from the world of greyhounds racing.

RAB and Liz McNair grabbed Classic glory in Tuesday's Oaks final at Wimbledon and have set their sights on the English Derby with big-race heroine Shaws Dilemma.

The youngster added the all-aged Oaks to her Puppy Oaks success plundered last month and can be backed at 60.0 to win the Derby final at Wimbledon on May 29, 2010.

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Talking of the Derby, the first prize has been cut to £75,000 by the new sponsors. The decision, taken for "commercial and economic reasons" is unlikely to be received well by owners and trainers, especially those in Ireland who are also faced with having to micro-chip their Classic contenders should they want to race in England from January 1.

"Micro-chipping could go either way," said one source. "Ireland will eventually have to introduce it, but this year it might need one high-profile Irish trainer to chip his greyhounds. Otherwise, what could turn into a boycott of the race might happen. Let's hope that's not the case."

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Favourite for the English Derby remains Mark Wallis's Eye Onthe Storm, despite his defeat by Pat Buckley's Irish raider Newlawn Class on Tuesday's Oaks card at Wimbledon.

The Eclipse winner can be backed at [13.5] for the Classic and, although turned over on the night, was hardly disgraced behind a fast winner, who will be back for the Juvenile in March.

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THE Greyhound of the Year title might still be a close-run thing between Fear Zafonic and Eye Onthe Storm, with supporters of Charlie Lister's Derby runner-up still confident of success.
"Eye Onthe Storm being beaten at Wimbledon might just have halted the momentum behind him," said one source. "But it could still be close, and you still cannot completely rule out Midway Skipper (marathon) and Platinumlancelot (hurdler), who have dominated their categories. Neither will win it, but they could split up the votes somewhere."

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After all the shenanigans over the Sky deal, chances are the broadcaster will cover around 35 live greyhound meetings in 2010. That would be the level of meetings covered live in recent years, and it appears just doubts about sponsorship of the big races was key to the delay in the announcement.

Clearly the delayed announcement of a Derby backer had the GRA concerned for its other fixtures. But the general picture is better than is being portrayed.

"It's good to see a new track in the schedule with Kinsley staging the TV Trophy," said one source. "And I wouldn't be surprised to see new sponsors and possibly new events appear in the second half of the year schedule."

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Finally, former Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan has emerged as the man behind a possible bid for Walthamstow. Very much the man behind-the-scenes in recent months, an interview on Sky on Tuesday put the name of the backer into the public domain and gives renewed hope for the track to be reclaimed for greyhound racing in 2010.