Harry Findlay excited about 10% TOTE retention starting at Towcester on Sunday

TOTE retention at a free-to-enter Towcester on Sunday will be just 10 per cent - much to the delight of legendary punter Harry Findlay.

 On an afternoon when Findlay and larger-than-life bookmaker Gary Wiltshire will talk greyhounds, horses and gambling in a special head-to-head before racing at the Northamptonshire track - their Q&A starts at 12.45pm - Findlay is excited about how the introduction of a lower tote margin will be received by customers.

 “It’s been 30 per cent and even more at most UK tracks and I’d like to thank Mike Davis and Greyhound Racing UK for having the innovation to give the low margin model the proper trial it deserves,” said Findlay. “If it doesn’t work at Towcester during the Greyhound Derby then it won’t work anywhere - but I know it will.

 “Towcester tote retentions will be identical to Lifford in Ireland with only 10 per cent kept by the ‘house’ i.e. the track in all win and place bets and 15 per cent on the ‘exotics’ - forecasts and tricasts.

 “They will keep that running at all meetings at Towcester going forward before and throughout the Greyhound Derby.

 “Sunday should be a great afternoon,” he added. “I’m looking forward to catching up with Gary Wiltshire and, with free entry, I really can’t wait to find out just how much the tote turnover improves especially in the win pool.”

 On the Towcester card itself, Findlay added: “They’ve got the best dogs on the planet on show including the fastest greyhound in the world in Bockos Diamond who won last year’s Irish Derby and is only 4-1 for the Towcester Derby.

 “That’s as short a price as I can ever remember ante-post for a dog to win the biggest and best greyhound race in the world!”

 Graham Holland’s Bockos Diamond is favourite to win the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Championship, the £10,000-to-the-winner one-off sharing the stage with the final of the BetGoodwin and JR Racing Syndicate Maiden Derby.

 First race is 1.57pm. Entry is free.

 *TICKETS are now available for all rounds of the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby. See https://tickets.greyhoundracinguk.com/