EIGHTEEN of Ireland’s best will tonight battle it out for a place in the final of the €€20,000 townviewfoods.com Champion Stakes. All three semi-finals look exceptionally open and, with only two to qualify from each heat, there is little room for error.

OLLIE Bray can begin to dream of further Derby glory after the powerfully built Royal Patrol confirmed his standing as one of Ireland’s most exciting young trackers with a superb last grasp victory in the ECC Timber Open 550 at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

CORK dual star Eoin Cadogan was among those who launched the 2011 Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park yesterday evening. The event will again be one of the richest events in the Irish greyhound calendar thanks to the multi sponsorship system and the innovative Nominator Scheme.

It may be only six months since the 2010 Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger final was run at the brand new Limerick Stadium but a huge crowd will be convening again on Saturday to savour the 2011 decider where there will be very strong local interest.

GREYHOUND followers have classic action on three fronts on Saturday night.

THE draw for the Paddy O’Sullivan Race of Champions at Tralee, due to be made yesterday, has been put back to today in a bid for more entries.

This weekend must rank as just about the busiest of the year, with five major finals for decision and 21 Irish dogs in action in the Williamhill.com English Derby at Wimbledon.

There will be no exporting of greyhounds from Ireland to China, in the near future at least.