Ballyhooly Henry will likely go off a warm order to land next weekend’s final of the Gain Dog Food 600 following a flawless display in Saturday night’s opening semi-final at Shelbourne Park.

A shock defeat for Droopys Jet and the elimination of that great old veteran Tyrur Big Mike were the major talking points last night at Shelbourne when the first eight heats in the second round of the Ladbrokes Irish Derby were run.

Many of the top fancies go into action in the Ladbrokes Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park tonight.

Ante-post favourite Ballymac Vic will be the last of the big names to launch their Ladbrokes Derby challenge when he lines out in tonight’s final heat of the opening round at Shelbourne Park.

It was a sensational session at Shelbourne last night as the second lot of heats in the Ladbrokes Irish Derby were run.

Invariably the commencement of the Townviewfoods.com Champion Stakes signals the arrival of “Derby fever” at Shelbourne Park and there will be an extra lift to the racegoers’ strides at headquarters this evening where a high-class programme includes the three semis of both the Champion and the associated Plate.

There should be a huge crowd in Dundalk this evening where Milldean Panther returns to action in the Boylesports International .

Dolores Ruth is the trainer to follow in this evening’s quarter-finals of the Betfair 600 at Shelbourne Park as the Rathangan handler sends out three of the four heats favourites.

Dolores Ruth is the trainer to follow in this evening’s quarter-finals of the Betfair 600 at Shelbourne Park as the Rathangan handler sends out three of the four heats favourites.

The dreadful weather conditions yesterday made things difficult for some trainers heading for the English Derby at Wimbledon which starts tomorrow night with 11 Irish runners in action in the first session.

The IGB yesterday released a statement in relation to the recent find of greyhound bodies in a Co Limerick quarry and revealed that they know the identity of the owners of some of the greyhounds.

The semi-finals of the Easter Cup headline proceedings at Shelbourne Park tonight and the second of the two heats should be particularly informative, with SIS Live Gold Cup champion Piercestown Sand taking on Derby champ Razldazl George and a seemingly resurgent Tyrur Big Mike, amongst others.

Broadstrand Lad and Tyrur Big Mike may have turned four years of age last weekend, but the two brilliant performers retain every ounce of their ability if their latest displays in the Easter Cup are an accurate indication.

The old adage “there’s life in the old dog yet” was pretty appropriate at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as the veteran pairing of Broadstrand Lad and Tyrur Big Mike impressed in the second round of the College Causeway/Killahan Phanter Easter Cup.

Punters didn’t have things easy in the opening round of the College Causeway/ Killahan Phanter Easter Cup and they can expect more of the same at Shelbourne Park this evening.

Except for a few high profile absentees most of the big names will be chasing the €25,000 prize when the classic commences at Shelbourne on Saturday.

The greyhound world is on standby for the return to action of Milldean Panther.

The start of the SIS Gold Cup is only a week away and many potential challengers will flex their muscles in preparation for the event at Shelbourne Park this evening.

Having bypassed a planned trial spin at Shelbourne on Saturday night, leading Irish tracker Milldean Panther is likely to have his first trial of the year at headquarters this morning.

RATTLIN GOLDSTAR and Razldazl Will renew rivalry in the second round of the Comerford Cakes National Puppy Stake at Shelbourne Park this evening.

THE second session of the opening round of the Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels dominates tonight's action at Curraheen Park and much of the early focus will be Tyrur Big Mike and how he fares in the first of eight heats.

PATRONS should get to Shelbourne Park early on Saturday night.

The Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby is building up to a wonderful climax and we are in for some magnificent racing at Shelbourne on Saturday when the quarter finals will be backed up by the second round heats of the Derby Plate.

DOLORES Ruth’s team have been in the driving seat in the ladbrokes.com Derby so far, with litter brothers Razldazl George and Razldazl Jayfkay dominating most betting lists.

TONIGHT is the first time this year that all the heats of the Ladbrokes.com Irish Greyhound Derby will be run on the same night and it provides a feast of betting opportunities for punters.

WITH no further withdrawals yesterday, there are 92 dogs standing for tonight’s opening second round session of the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park.

THE opening round of the Ladbrokes.com Derby will draw to a conclusion at Shelbourne Park this evening and, with twelve heats, there should be no shortage of clues as to the possible outcome of the world’s greatest greyhound competition.

THE race for glory will commence tomorrow evening at Shelbourne Park with 150 greyhounds in pursuit of the €120,000 Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby.

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.

THERE will be loads of Derby chat in the air this evening at Shelbourne where the pre-racing trial session will see many top names going through their paces from the new 525 and 550 yards traps.

THIS year’s Sporting Press Irish Oaks has been right out of the top drawer and this evening there are two ultra-competitive semi-finals down for decision.

IT’S another busy week on the tracks with top action all over the country.

THERE are no major competitions currently in progress at Shelbourne Park but tonight’s card is packed with real quality as many of Ireland’s fastest trackers prepare for their respective targets.

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.

DOLORES Ruth is responsible for the favourite in both semi-finals of the College Causeway/Killahan Phanter Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park this evening and while both look likely to qualify for next week's final they will need to be on their toes to emerge on top this evening.

IT HAS been over six months since Tyrur Big Mike raced, but the Derby and Champion Stakes runner-up is hot favourite to lift the Collage Causeway/Killahan Phanter Easter Cup, which starts at Shelbourne tonight.

THE anticipated announcement of the new chairman of the Irish Greyhound Board didn’t materialise yesterday but word is now expected before the end of the week.

TYRUR BIG MIKE will be an absentee from Heat 7 in the second round heats of the Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park this evening.

One can already sense the buzz developing around this year’s Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels and the first round action suggested that Curraheen Park patrons are going to be served up some wonderful racing between now and final night.

The two sessions of the opening round of the Laurels were completed at Curraheen Park over the weekend and ante-post favourite Tyrur Enda emerged with his reputation enhanced while his kennel-companion and Derby runner-up Tyrur Big Mike’s suitability to the circuit remains somewhat in question despite a winning start to his campaign.

THE big guns enter the arena at Curraheen Park tonight when the remaining first round heats of the Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels dominate the card.

IT hardly seems like 363 days since that amazing night when College Causeway produced one of the greatest performances ever seen on a greyhound track, but here we are within two days of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby final and anticipation levels are extremely high.

THE legendary Australian tracker and sire Brett Lee has been put down some weeks after sustaining an injury in a fall while running around the yard in his kennels.

THE Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park is now trimmed to 24 runners from an original field of 144. Following a flying 29.42 last weekend, Tyrur Big Mike now heads the betting lists.

FOLLOWING the luxury of four qualifying from all first round heats, the pressure will begin in the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby this evening at Shelbourne when it will be just three to survive to the third round.

IT was a typical opening night in the 2010 Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park last night with a few major upsets and some very fast racing, writes Michael Fortune.

THE first heats in the 2010 Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby will be run at Shelbourne Park tonight and a sensational start looks on the cards with many of the leading fancies in action.

THE draw for the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby was made a Shelbourne Park yesterday morning and it worked out pretty fair for virtually all the leading fancies.