THERE’S just over three weeks to the start of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com Derby and a number of potential challengers flexed their muscles at Shelbourne Park on Saturday, although few impressed quite like Barefoot Bullet and Farley Blitz as they took the two feature races.

Irish greyhound racing will break new ground next Friday at Harold’s Cross when the Gain Feeds Corn Cuchulainn final will be broadcast live around the world via the RTE website.

FATBOYZ Tyson, trained by Pat Gordon in Enniscorthy, is the 11-4 favourite with the sponsors for the Boylesports International to be run at Dundalk on Monday night next.

Following the dramatic happenings in the Dail on Tuesday evening and the subsequent fall-out, the Government will hardly be looking forward to the vote on the Dog Breeding Establishment Bill next week.

THE BIG question mark in advance of Saturday’s Sporting Press Irish Oaks final is whether Skywalker Queen can hit top form at just the right moment to win the bitch classic for the second year on the trot.

There will be many star trackers in action at Tralee tomorrow night.

I’M something of an optimist by nature but I can’t help but detect a number of very positive signs on the Irish greyhound front that provides renewed hope for the future of the industry.

THIS year’s Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park will be sponsored by Pat Hennerty Sales Ltd, while nine other sponsors will join forces in supporting the other races on what promises to be a remarkable final night.

LESS than a month after going off favourite for the final of the English Derby, Toomaline Jack will be back at Wimbledon contesting the first round of the Williamhill.com English National.

A day can be a long time in greyhound racing and it was never better exemplified than on Tuesday night at Wimbledon where an Irish monopoly on the Williamhill.com English Derby was reduced to a strong Irish participation as two of our top fancies Mesedo Blue and Barefoot Bullet went crashing out of the classic.