Kevin Hutton’s superstar landed the sport’s ultimate prize on a star-studded night at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Bridge on Sunday 27th January, having earlier lifted the Betfair Standard Distance Performer of the Year – a category in which he edged King Turbo and Droopys Verve in a particularly strong line-up.

Winner of the Star Sports Greyhound Derby at Towcester in June, Dorotas Wildcat’s end-of-year success in the MCSM Ltd. Eclipse at Nottingham for the May 2015 son of Ballymac Vic and Droopys Danneel proved vitally important in lifting the Greyhound of the Year title. So believed connections of the Hutton and David Usher part-owned champion.

“It certainly helped his cause!” said Hutton. “You always believe a Derby winner has a great chance of winning the top award, but this year was tough. There was plenty of talent out there, especially with Rab and Liz’s dog (King Turbo) who is just a fantastic greyhound. His four titles showed that. For that reason, the Wildcat needed to win the Eclipse!”

Having also won The Oaks at Swindon with Ravenswood Flo, Hutton and partner Donna Witches reflected on a great but topsy-turvy year. Towcester’s closure and a break-in at his kennels which saw five greyhounds stolen were the obvious downsides, the performances of his greyhounds – particularly Dorotas Wildcat – was a huge upside.

“You look back and think how did we get through it?” said Hutton, “but you just do. You take stock, as a lot of us did at Towcester, and make change where necessary. We reduced the kennel strength, concentrating on the youngster dogs and the established one – and the Wildcat was our number one.

“What a greyhound, and just the apple of Donna’s eye. She takes a huge amount of credit,” said Hutton, while kennelhand Marc Studer added: “She just adores him, and he her. I think with all that went on during the Derby, the Wildcat kept us focussed,” with Witchells agreeing: “He kept us all going while we got the greyhounds back.”

Retirement had been an option for the Derby champion – until it was announced that Nottingham would host the 2019 Greyhound Derby, backed by Star Sports, Local Security Parking and Arc. “He’s won an Eclipse and a Select Stakes at Nottingham so it’s a track that plays to his strengths – we’ve got to give it a go!” said Hutton.

The dates of the 2019 Star Sports, Arc and LPS Greyhound Derby were announced on GBGB Awards night on Sunday – with Nottingham track director Rachel Corden confirming the final of the £100,000-to-winner Classic would take place at the Colwick Park venue on Saturday, June 29.

In a change to the traditional schedule, there will be eight days between third round and quarter-finals, with a week then between the quarters and the semi-finals. “We feel this gives the greyhounds a greater resting opportunity at an important point of the competition and aids those trainers travelling for a distance,” said Corden.

*THE 2019 Star Sports, Arc and LPS Greyhound Derby first round takes place on Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25.

The second round will be on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1; the third round on Friday, June 7; the quarter-finals on Saturday, June 15; the semi-finals on Saturday, June 22 and the final on Saturday, June 29.