PRICELESS BLAKE received another trophy for the mantlepiece of trainer Paul Hennessy this week when the GWA/RPGTV award arrived safely at the Derby winner’s kennel in Gowran, Co. Kilkenny.

After winning the £100,000 Star Sports, Arc and LPS-backed Classic at Nottingham last month, the destination of the monthly honour – voted on by RPGTV viewers from a selection of contenders assembled by the Greyhound Writers’ Association – was never in doubt.

Clive Lawrence, executive producer at RPGTV, explained: “We chose not to Iaunch a viewers’ poll given the Derby champion would be, and should be, an automatic selection. The Derby dominates ours and the sport’s schedule in June and it’s rightful the June trophy goes straight to Paul and the team.”

Owned by Cayman Islands-based Bryan and Kathleen Murphy, Priceless Blake returned the Derby trophy back across the Irish Sea with victory at Colwick Park as he led home an Irish one-two-three in the sport’s blue riband event, although plans to return to Nottingham for the RPGTV Select Stakes had to be shelved.

“Unfortunately he picked up a small injury in finishing second in the Dundalk International, so unfortunately we had to miss the Select which was sad, but it gives us a chance to ready him for the Irish Derby,” said Paul Hennessy, who confirmed the monthly trophy will be staying in Ireland.

“The postage is too much to the Caymans!” he joked. “No, seriously, Bryan and Kathleen have a trophy memento from the night – and we will always remember and cherish our time at Nottingham in 2019. It was a dream come true for us to win another English Derby and I know it was an ambition fulfilled for the Murphys.”

Jonathan Hobbs, chairman of the GWA, said: “Seeing the Hennessy and Murphys celebrate on the night will live long in the memory. They are great families, real sporting people, and I’ve known them for many years on visits to Shelbourne, Shawfield – and for their visits to our Derby.

“I speak on behalf of the greyhound press and media when I say Paul and Susan (Hennessy) have always been brilliant and easy to deal with, as has their son Kevin. We’ve watched him grow up on his visits to Wimbledon as a youngster and that experience clearly served him well at Nottingham this year!

“Therefore, while obviously keen for the English-trained greyhounds to go well in the Derby, we were all happy to see the Hennessys triumph.

“The respectful and friendly rivalry between the Hennessys and the other Irish-based trainers, Liam Dowling (Ballymac Tas), Pat Guilfoyle (Skywalker Logan) and Graham Holland (Clonbrien Prince) was also great to see – especially the obvious connection between the Hennessys and Dowlings!

“Hopefully they’ll all be back trying to win another English Derby for Ireland in 2020 – but I also know that Angela (Harrison, Droopys Expert) and Kevin (Hutton, Magical Bale) and all the other English-based trainers will be keen to get the trophy back to its rightful place – this side of the Irish Sea!”