All eyes on Monmore Green for the £10,000 Ladbrokes Winter Derby finale

Greyhound racing fans are eagerly waiting for the final of the Ladbrokes Winter Derby which is taking place at Monmore Green on Saturday evening. Six of the UK’s top greyhounds will line up for the £10,000-to-the winner finale and there has been some exhilarating action at the Wolverhampton venue so far.

Ivy Hill Skyhigh was victorious for Suffolk-based champion trainer Mark Wallis in the first of the competition’s hotly contested semi-finals. He was closely followed by last year’s Monmore Puppy Derby heroine, Jaguar Macie, who also secured a well-deserved spot in the final for trainer Graham Rankin.

Fastest in the second semi-final was Burnchurch Mick who is trained by Richard Reese for owner Darryl Bear. The May 2019 son of Laughil Blake and Blackstone Angie soon had his rivals under pressure, crossing the line in 28.37sec and three lengths clear of Mark Wallis’ Druids On Song.

Callmesteve, trained by John Mullins, produced a strong-running effort to claim the third semi-final. Also qualifying was reigning champion Kevin Hutton’s classy Bull Run Norris who is currently favourite to win for owner Gilbert Anderson.

Speaking after his semi-final win, champion trainer Mark Wallis, said: “Ivy Hill Skyhigh is running out of his skin and we’re delighted with him.

“He trapped lovely in his semi-final but, in what is a hot final, he’ll need to do so again to clear those inside him. However, it’s fantastic for connections to reach a second four-bend final of the year and his fifth Cat One final overall.

“Druids On Song is a promising pup and we only put him in the Winter Derby for experience as he was a month too old for the Puppy Derby. There’s so much to like about him and I’ve seen a million worse 10-1 shots than him!