KEVIN HUTTON enjoyed a mixture of emotions on semi-final night of the Star Sports, Arc and LPS Greyhound Derby as Magical Bale (29.42sec) won the first semi in all-the-way style only for Dorotas Wildcat, the reigning champion, to be eliminated.

Now retired, Dorotas Wildcat will lead the parade for Saturday’s £100,000-to-the-winner decider in the care of Hutton’s partner and assistant Donna Witchells, with kennelmate Magical Bale – paraded by Hutton himself – just behind after he drew trap one in Monday’s trap draw at the Derby Lunch at The Ritz in London.

Hutton said: “It’s not ideal being in trap one, but he’s a fantastic dog and deserves to be in the final. It’s certainly opened up the race and, with a field of six railers, it was never going to be ideal for most. We didn’t want either traps one or six, but we’ve got red and will hope he can come away and hold his position.

“He won the Puppy Derby and came second in the Irish Derby for Patrick (Guilfoyle, breeder), so we know he has the class to win – we just hope everything goes right for him. His owners (Westwell Racing Club) have been great right from the start. They’re a real team and it was good to see a good few of them at the lunch.”

Reflecting on Dorotas Wildcat, Hutton said: “I was gutted on the night. The semi-final was going to plan for us when he turned second behind Bale but something wasn’t right and he’s torn a muscle. He’s been a champion for us, but also for the sport itself it seems. Thank-you to everyone who messaged us.”

Four Irish entries will grace Saturday’s final after Priceless Blake (Paul Hennessy) finished behind Magical Bale and Droopys Expert (Angela Harrison) in that first semi, while Clonbrien Prince (Graham Holland) led home Skywalker Logan (Patrick Guilfoyle) and Ballymac Tas (Liam Dowling) for an Irish one-two-three in the second semi in 29.40sec.

Nicky Holland, wife of Clonbrien Prince’s trainer, said: “We’re delighted to be in an English Derby Final again. We had a good run at it with Clares Rocket finishing third at Towcester two years ago – he’s in the house now and has the run of the place! – and did win the Irish Derby with a dog in trap six in Rural Hawaii.

“Maybe that’s an omen for us, now getting trap six for Prince!” smiled Holland after the Shelbourne 600 winner pulled out trap six for the decider. “Hopefully it works for him. We know what he has to do, break well and get across – but he’s loving Nottingham, right from his first trial there.

“He’s a dog who loves his racing and would have coped with the three-runs-in-a-week schedule the English Derby used to have – and we’re all looking forward to Saturday. It’s been a very busy six weeks or so, but you saw at the Derby Lunch what it means to us all. It’s great to be involved.”

Jason Smith, joint-racing manager at the Colwick Park venue, said: “It’s a great final and the draw has certainly made it more of a puzzle. I told Nathan (Corden, Nottingham director) when Clonbrien Prince first trialled here that he might win the Derby – he handled the track fantastically – and has huge class.

“However we’ve a new track record holder in there with Skywalker Logan and Magical Bale was fantastic in the quarters and semi-finals, especially. Droopys Expert has always performed well here; Ballymac Tas has not been lucky with the draw at times but she’s done great, while I know they like the middle draw for Priceless Blake. It’s set up nicely.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s Star Sports, Arc and LPS Greyhound Derby Final: 1 Magical Bale, 2 Ballymac Tas, 3 Priceless Blake, 4 Skywalker Logan, 5 Droopys Expert, 6 Clonbrien Prince.