Possible Clues:

• Popular bet: Reverend to retreat, lacking a lot of backbone
• Relating to spinal bones
• In a particular column, alter verb that's irregular
• Of the backbone
• Some particular bet reviewed, raised? That's showing backbone
• Spiny anteater finally taken in by abler vet recovered
• Revelations held back by Albert when editing this column
• Sort of column a little irregular: bet reviews taken the wrong way
• Spiny?
• Sort of column produced by Rev Albert Wild?