A LEYLAND dog trainer will be hedging his bets on Saturday as he enters his fast four-legged friend in the final of the Wimbledon Derby in London.

Jim Gibson, of Lancaster Lane, has been breeding and racing dogs for more than 40 years and has had some success on the track -- but never made it past the quarter finals in the English Derby.

Now Jim, 64, believes he has a real chance of taking home first prize with greyhound Pilot Alert, who has come all the way from Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland to compete in the biggest event in the dog-racing calendar.

The three-year-old sped his way to the final of the event -- equivalent in size and prestige to the Grand National horse race -- after seeing off competition in six Wimbledon heats, where he raced against 200 hounds.

Jim, who retired a year ago, first got a taste for training hounds after visiting racing tracks in Bolton during his twenties -- and he's been hooked ever since.

But last year he sold his business to its present owners Pat Rosney and his partner Julie McCoombe, who now have more than 50 dogs in the Town Brow kennels, in Clayton-le-Woods, near Leyland.

And the rural location is perfect for Pilot Alert who trains on a 250-yard 'straight gallop' stretch.

Pat said: "We have done well and Pilot Alert has been specially bred to race. We'll be going to London on Saturday evening for the final, but Pilot Alert will be making a solo journey earlier in the day with Julie."

Jim said: "This is a dream come true. I've been waiting for this moment all my life.

"If Pilot Alert is lucky enough to win, the prize is £70,000 and then he gets to stud status -- it's very exciting as he's the second favourite.

"We have all had a good year. We also won the Oakes with our bitch Talk to the Hand, who is now contesting the Irish Oakes."