English Derby format not punter friendly

The stg£250,000 winner’s prize for the William Hill English Greyhound Derby has lured so many entries the first stage will have to be run over four nights rather than the usual three.

The final figure for entries is 273, resulting in the opening-round heats being scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday of next week.

With 96 to be confirmed for the second phase, the onus is on the organisers to reduce the field by 177 in just one round. To effect that, it seems likely just two greyhounds will qualify from most of the heats.