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.

The Williamhill.com English Derby will reach the semi-final stage next Saturday when the third round is run at Wimbledon and hopes of an Irish victory in the classic are sky high following another very successful weekend for the raiding party.

THE Hegarty Bookmakers 600 dominates the home racing scene this week but there will also be huge interest in the progress of our numerically very strong team which will be on duty in the second round of the Williamhill.com English Derby at Wimbledon.

NEWS from across the water yesterday is that one of the biggest entries for many years will go into the draw on Sunday for the first round of the Williamhill.com English Derby and among them there will be one of the biggest ever Irish raiding teams.

BLARNEY trainer John Linehan will be breaking new ground when he challenges for the Williamhill.com English Derby with his Curraheen Park qualifier Droopys Sastre.