Derby champ Laughil Blake and the immensely talented Droopys Nidge gave further credence, if it were needed, to the ‘Night of Stars’ moniker as they produced stellar performances on Saturday at Shelbourne Park.

The 2014 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels got underway with some terrific performances in last Saturday night’s opening round and, based on those runs alone, it looks like we’ll be seeing some sub 28.00 runs this year.

Darragh Morrissey, Paul Hennessy and Graham Holland all recorded doubles in the first round of the 2014 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels on Saturday night at Curraheen Park, but it was the John Kavanagh-trained Vimmerby who set the bar highest with his terrific display in the second of the 13 heats.

The final of the Thurles Fresh Milk Tipperary Cup was the feature of the weekend’s action, and 4-1 chance Dannys Zebo made the most of his inside line to claim the €7,000 winner’s prize for John O’Connell and the Exorcists Syndicate.

The 2012 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels comes to a climax at Curraheen Park tonight and the Graham Holland-trained Knockglass Billy can land the prestigious trophy for owner Martin Murphy, of Ladysbridge.

Saturday night’s second-round action in the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels saw racing at Curraheen Park brought to a whole new level when Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Vic became the first greyhound to break the 28-second barrier in competitive action at the venue.

The draw for the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels took place at Curraheen Park yesterday afternoon and the track is set for a bumper night’s racing this weekend with the confirmation that all 11 first round heats will be run on Saturday.

Trainer Kieran Lynch must have left Curraheen Park on Saturday night a very satisfied man after his Madam Shaw posted the fastest time of the night and Postman Ray claimed the most notable of sprinting scalps.

Following his sale on Saturday last, Cabra Noel is likely to race as Tyrur Justin when he begins his quest for English Derby honours at Wimbledon.

There’s simply no stopping Rathangan greyhound trainer Dolores Ruth.

THE Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels is building up to a huge crescendo with two fantastic semi-finals lined up for Saturday night.

SATURDAY night at Curraheen provided a final chance for Laurels hopefuls to gain some competitive action at the track prior to the start of the Classic, and Sede Vacante put the finishing touches to his preparations with a super performance in a top-class renewal of the Great Stuff Caterers Open 525.

BY MONDAY afternoon, the starting line-up for the 2011 Laurels will be revealed and the draw for the first round heats made

There’s quite a treat in store for Curraheen Park racegoers on Saturday when last year’s Cashmans Laurels hero Sevenheads Bay reverts to two-bend racing as he opens his seasonal campaign with a challenge for the Kudos Supersprint.

THE greyhounds of the year will be honoured at a lunchtime function in Limerick on Sunday, March 7th and the nominations for the various awards were selected at a meeting in Shelbourne Park last week.

IMPRESSIVE in the opening round, Kryptonite can strike again in heat one of the second round of the Cashmans Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park tonight.

ANTE-POST joint favourite Slip The Lark can lay down an early marker in the Cashmans Bookmakers Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park by landing an ultra- competitive heat 13 tonight (7.47 start).

BOHERDUFF LIGHT ended his racing career on the best possible note when winning the Langtons House Derby for the second successive year at Kilkenny on Friday night.

PREMIER FANTASY and Legal Moment were honoured last night as the Irish trackers of the year at the National Greyhound Awards Gala staged at the Osprey Hotel in Naas.