Major re-jig of English Greyhound Derby prize money

In a commendable move which should benefit more owners and trainers, the winner’s prize for next year’s William Hill English Greyhound Derby will be down 40% on 2015. That was the decision announced this week, as the organisers restructured the breakdown of the prize-money to ‘spread the cash’ around more.

There will be a total fund of £300,000 in 2016 but the winner will receive £150,000, as opposed to the £250,000 which Rio Quattro earned connections for his success in June. Surprisingly, the runner-up will also receive less in 2016 than this year (£20,000, down from £25,000) but the other finalists all see an increase, receiving £15,000, £12,500, £11,000 and £10,000 respectively.

There’s also a significant spread down through the ranks, with first-round heat winners getting £250 (from £100), second round £400, third round £550, quarter-final winners £1,000 and semi-finals winners £3,000. Each placed and unplaced dog in every heat will also receive prize-money.

The decision seems to have been well-received in Britain and likely from Ireland too as the additional money received from early heats, in particular, will go some way to alleviating the pain of the cost of travel.

The competition already makes considerable appeal, and this move, if possible, will only encourage even more owners to take their chance. Thankfully, the field will be capped at 288 entries.

Of course, there is always a downside to reducing prize money, but the winner’s cheque is still immense, and negates most pitfalls.

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The focus of the weekend action is the Night of Stars at Shelbourne, the card for which is now online. The highlight of the programme is the return of Derby champ Ballymac Matt, who hasn’t been seen since September, but recorded a brilliant 29.35 trial last Thursday night.

He contests the Boylesports 550, in which his opposition consists of three other Derby finalists (Gaytime Hawk, Farloe Rumble and Peregrine Falcon) and the last two Leger winners (current champ Skywalker Rory, and the 2014 winner Paradise Silva).

Mulvaney Memorial 600 winner Ballydoyle Honey will likely be an odds-on shot to land the Ballymac Stud 600, but she has some stern opposition, including Cesarewitch winner Paradise Maverik, Kirby Memorial winner Cable Bay, Leger finalist Offshore Bound, and the ideally drawn Ballyhooly Henry.

Curiously, only one of the six runners in the Droopys Nidge 575 has ever raced over the trip, that being House Doctor, who was a course and distance winner last weekend.

The Banner 350 is, arguably, the most open of the feature races, and Southern Sprint winner Dungill Rocket has strong claims. As previously mentioned, two of the support races are confined to pups, one for bitches and one for dogs. They’re each worth €2,000 to the winner, and add plenty to the night.

Juvenile Derby winner Anopheles will be a leading fancy in the dogs’ race, but faces stern opposition, while the Johnny Linehan-trained Droopys Aurora, and Edel Twomey’s Witches Belle are local representatives with big claims in the bitches’ race.

• Doheny GAA is holding a fundraiser at Curraheen Park on Saturday night, where the final of the Drinagh Co-Op Doheny GAA A2 525 is the feature of the 11-race programme, which gets underway at 7:46pm.

Looking further down the line at Curraheen, the 2015 Macroom Motor Services Open 575, worth €3,500 to the winner, gets underway on Saturday December 5, with 24 entries being sought by December 1.