The 2010 William Hill Greyhound Derby Final took place during April and May with the final being held on 29 May 2010 at Wimbledon Stadium. The competition was sponsored by William Hill following the end of the sponsorship deal with Blue Square. The winner Bandicoot Tipoki received £75,000.
The event was still over 480 metres, but Wimbledon had switched the grandstand to the other side of the track creating a different course. Six rounds were to take place and the final saw the field finish within two lengths of each other. One greyhound, Lyreen Mover, kennelled at Tony Magnasco's in Oxfordshire, reached the final unbeaten under Hungarian trainer Gabor Tenczel. This was the first time an entry had been received from outside the UK or Ireland.
Bandicoot Tipoki moved wide at the start and impeded Krug Ninety Five. There was a battle at the front between Lyreen Mover and Toomaline Jack which lasted all the way to the line. Tipoki, however, finished well and claimed victory near the line. Charlie Lister won his fifth greyhound Derby and equalled the post-war record of five wins by Leslie Reynolds.
Final result At Wimbledon (over 480 metres): PositionName of GreyhoundBreedingTrapSectionalSPTimeTrainer 1stBandicoot TipokiCrash - Bandicoot Lola34.957-228.57Charlie Lister OBE (Private)2ndLyreen MoverTop Honcho - Lyreen Diva24.786-128.61Gabor Tenczel (Hungary)3rdKrug Ninety FiveDroopys Maldini - Frontier Music45.0512-128.62Fraser Black (Ireland)4thOran ClassicTop Honcho - Jo Bluebell14.897-128.63John McGee Sr. (Ireland)5thToomaline JackHallucinate - Mercury Queen54.8410-11f28.64Dolores Ruth (Ireland)6thAdageoDroopys Vieri - Droopys Nectar64.8228-128.71Mark Wallis (Harlow)
Distances ½, short head, short head, short head, ¾ (lengths) The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. One length is equal to 0.08 of one second.
Quarter finals
Heat 1 (May 18)PosName SP Time 1st Westmead Scolari 11-2 28.492nd Glenard Sunrise 3-1 28.513rd Oran Classic 7-1 28.644th Moneygall Obama 9-2 28.685th Eye Onthe Tempo 25-1 28.886th Mesedo Blue 6-4f 28.94
Heat 2 (May 18)PosName SP Time 1st Romeo Reason 5-2 28.502nd Head Iton Ellis 5-1 28.513rd Slick Robert 6-1 28.534th Barefoot Bullet 11-8f 28.615th Kerrs Destiny 50-1 28.896th Gilbeyhall Jake 10-1 00.00
Heat 3 (May 18)PosName SP Time 1st Toomaline Jack 1-2f 28.372nd Krug Ninety Five 7-1 28.563rd Adageo 12-1 28.744th Roo Come On 7-1 28.795th Cloheena Cash 33-1 28.966th Rainham Giles 8-1 29.16
Heat 4 (May 18)PosName SP Time 1st Lyreen Mover 4-1 28.752nd Bandicoot Tipoki 15-8f 28.783rd Farloe Skywalker 5-2 28.874th Sevenheads Boy 7-1 28.945th Tranquil Time 7-1 29.026th Tyrur Speedy 16-1 29.08
Semi finals
First Semi Final (May 22)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trainer1st Lyreen Mover 3-1jf 28.59 Tenczel2nd Oran Classic 7-1 28.60 McGee Sr.3rd Krug Ninety Five 4-1 28.66 Black4th Glenard Sunrise 4-1 28.68 Dartnall5th Westmead Scolari 3-1jf 28.78 Savva6th Slick Robert 6-1 28.85 Allsop
Second Semi Final (May 22)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trainer1st Toomaline Jack 11-10f 28.51 Ruth2nd Bandicoot Tipoki 11-4 28.70 Lister3rd Adageo 25-1 28.71 Wallis4th Head Iton Ellis 12-1 28.73 Race5th Farloe Skywalker 10-1 28.84 Dartnall6th Romeo Reason 5-1 28.90 McNair
Competition report The number of entries increased by 69 on the previous year resulting in 215 greyhounds lining up for the event. The ante post favourite at 7-1 was Eye Onthe Storm trained by Mark Wallis; the black and white dog had won the Eclipse, Puppy Classic and Blue Riband.
The new course duly created a series of new tracks records on the first night, (Eye Eye Pickle (28.48) was followed by Aero Ardiles (28.38) and Bandicott Tipoki (28.26), the first night however was ruined by the serious injury and elimination of Eye Onthe Storm. Fear Zafonic and Barefoot Bullet stood out during the remaining qualifiers. Bandocoot Tipoki went fastest again during the second round recording 28.35 and there were good wins for Juvenile champion Ten Large Down and Toomaline Jack but Fear Zafonic crashed out.
The third round caused a surprise when both Ten Large Down and Scottish Greyhound Derby champion Nambisco were eliminated, overseas entry Lyreen Mover remained unbeaten as did Mesedo Blue, Toomaline Jack and favourite Bandicoot Tipoki. The first quarter final went to Westmead Scolari, a heat that saw Mesedo Blue go out and this was followed by a win for Romeo Reason and elimination of Barefoot Bullet. Tommaline Jack impressed in the third heat recording a fast 28.37 and the round ended with Lyreen Mover defeating Bandicoot Tipoki by a neck. It was clear at this stage that Lyreen Mover would be hard to break clear off.
The first semi final went once again to Lyreen Mover by just a head with Oran Classic and Krug Ninety Five sealing places for Ireland in the final. The two favourites Toomaline Jack and Bandicoot Tipoki claimed the first and second place in heat two with Adageo grabbing the final spot.
See also 2010 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
References
External links Greyhound Board of Great Britain Greyhound Data