TOWCESTER racing manager Andy Lisemore says he feels excitement growing at the track ahead of Easter Sunday (April 20) at the Northamptonshire venue which will feature both the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Championship and BetGoodwin and J R Racing Maiden Derby Final.

The draw for the Juvenile Championship was made earlier this week and will see BoyleSports Irish Derby winner Bockos Diamond go head to head with GBGB Greyhound of the Year Wicky Ned, plus multiple Category One champion Proper Heiress in a one-off £10,000-to-the-winner showdown.

However, this coming Sunday card will also see the semi-finals of the BetGoodwin and J R Racing Maiden Derby and, like the Juvenile, Towcester RM Lisemore is delighted to see plenty of Irish interest – especially with Paul Hennessy dominating the first round of the 500m competition. Hennessy also has Boylesports Blue in the Juvenile.

Lisemore said: “Paul is a great supporter to us here at Towcester and, as an English and Irish Derby-winning trainer, his runners are always respected. Even so, I’m not sure he could have forecast  four winners here last week across the Maiden Derby heats and English Derby trial stakes. That was some effort from the kennel!”

Hennessy’s Maiden Derby heat winners were Hello Diego (28.93sec) and Lennies Desire (29.06sec) with the Co. Kilkenny-based handler clearly intent on keeping the trophy he won last year with Jaytee Etienne at his Gowran base.

“Paul also struck on the card with Barefoot On Five and his Juvenile runner Boylesports Blue so had a great day overall,” added Lisemore, “as did Tom Heilbron with two Maiden Derby heat winners in Hollyhill Pad (29.17sec) and Optic Pharaoh (29.38sec).”

The other BetGoodwin and J R Racing Maiden Derby heat winners were the Seamus Cahill-trained Tivoli Milo (29.25sec) and Jason Heath’s Burrows Charm (29.16sec).

“It’s shaping up into a really good Maiden Derby and the semi-finals this Sunday have given us three very good races alongside another batch of Star Sports English Greyhound Derby Trial Stakes. We’ve also got a few trials before racing, so there’s plenty happening it. It’s building up nicely and these Sunday cards are a joy to be involved with.”

*LEGENDARY punter Harry Findlay and larger-than-life bookmaker Gary Wiltshire will talk greyhounds, horses and gambling in a special head-to-head before Towcester’s gala Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Championship and BetGoodwin Maiden Derby Final card on Easter Sunday, April 20.

Organised by Greyhound Racing UK, a spokesman said: “Both Harry and Gary have incredible stories to tell and we’ll get a snapshot of their lives, but also how they see the state of the betting industry in general and its future.

“It’s all happening from 12.45pm before racing on Easter Sunday afternoon at Towcester in the newly refurbished Bar 4000 at the track – on what is a top-class afternoon of greyhound racing.”