Rarely have we approached a season with greater expectations than this year.

While the weather caused the postponement of a few meetingslast night, it seems certain that Shelbourne Park will be fit to race this evening where the feature is the final of the Joe Dunne Memorial Puppy 525.

It has been quite a week for the greyhound industry this far with the three splendid days of sport at Clonmel and then the highly encouraging figures released by the Irish Greyhound Board.

THE Tyrur McGuigan @ Stud Open 575 has provided some wonderful racing to kick of the New Year at Shelbourne Park over the past three weeks and next week’s final looks hugely intriguing following Saturday’s semi finals.

MELODYS Royal looks likely to be aimed at the biggest competitions in the calendar in the coming months after a stunning display in the final of the Joe Dunne Memorial Puppy 525 at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.

Question: What Coursing Derby winner was not eligible to contest a Coursing Bred stake on the track?

CENTRAL CITY’S victory in the Boylesports.com Derby at Clonmel on Wednesday was a performance that defied all the traditions of greyhound breeding and which could have a major effect on future breeding lines.

It really has been the most amazing start to the greyhound year. First we had the freeze-up and no racing at Shelbourne Park and other venues for a full month. Now we have the situation that because of many of our leading dogs lack full fitness, a prestigious event such as the Joe Dunne Memorial Puppy Stake has had to be put back a week in order to attract sufficient entries.

OVENS handler Shane Murphy had a night to remember on Saturday.