Row over trials scuppers Fahy’s English Derby bid

PJ FAHY’S plan to contest this year’s English Derby was scuppered even before it got underway yesterday. Fahy and his trainer-son Conor brought five intended challengers over for trials in advance of the Derby but an altercation with Wimbledon official Gary Matthews resulted in the Galway team leaving for home without trialling their dogs and having rescinded their earlier plans.

The track official seemingly castigated Fahy senior because he alleged the first he knew about plans to run the dogs was when he read it in a newspaper and that the dogs had not been officially entered for trials. However Conor Fahy confirmed that he had spoken with a named Racing Office staff member, had entered the dogs by name and had been assured that the dogs would be given early trials to facilitate their early journey back to the ferry.

It then transpired that the dogs were actually listed on the official trial sheet but were down for generally late trials. At this stage PJ reckoned he had enough of it all and informed the Wimbledon official that his Derby plans had been abandoned.