The 2014 Night of Stars, which takes place on Saturday at Shelbourne Park, promises to deliver in spades.

There was real drama in the final of the Gain Feeds Select Stakes on Saturday night at Waterford, from which the tremendously consistent Southest Suzie emerged victorious for Daniel Frayne of Wexford.

Droopys Nidge remains firmly on course for St Leger success.

The semi-finals of the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels attracted a large crowd to Curraheen Park on Saturday night, and all who attended were treated to superb heats, in each of which the three qualifiers were covered by less than a length.

We’d all like to see six dogs line up for the Derby — not least connections of Kereight King — but there are five great stories with those still standing and I don’t suppose whoever is lucky enough to pick up the trophy and the €125,000 cheque on Saturday night will worry about how many rivals his/her greyhound beat in the final.

The Kerry Agri-Business St Leger gets underway at Limerick tonight and Derby champion Skywalker Puma returns to competitive action for the first time since his stunning success in Ireland’s premier classic.

Seeing as not one bookmaking firm has put up prices for the Red Mills Irish Laurels, we will try to sort out the likely ante-post fancies for the classic which commences on Saturday at Curraheen Park.

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.

Two days to the final of the Ladbrokes Irish Derby final and a total absence of any negative stories concerning the finalists.

Thankfully, the top class action on the greyhound front never seems to abate and in just a couple of weeks’ time we’ll have the opening round of the Tote Gold Cup.

The calendar of major events for 2012, which has been just released by the Irish Greyhound Board, contains a number of changes that have already generated plenty of debate that is sure to continue for some time.

TOMMY Delaney’s Leeview Jet ensured there would be local representation in next weekend’s Classic climax when he produced his best performance of the year to run home a most impressive winner in Saturday’s first Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels semi-final at Curraheen Park.

TONIGHT’S final of the Beamish A1 at Curraheen Park is laden with early pace, but the make-up is such that Aghaburren River, who seems unlikely to lead, could be drawn to upset more fancied rivals, Johnny Linehan’s dog ran a cracker in the semi-final when pushing Burgess Star to a length and given that he was returning after a couple of months off, he’s entitled to improve for the outing.

WITH the Derby now history for another year, the focus down south will now swing to the Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels which will kick off at Curraheen Park on Friday night of next week.

While more prospective Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels Classic contenders put their credentials on the line at Curraheen Park tonight, some potential stars of the future contest the semi-finals of the Two Wheel Training Unraced Stake.

BAREL Of Laughs is fancied to give Jim Culloty a welcome turn in the Laurels Bar Maiden Hurdle for colts and geldings at Killarney this evening.

OAKFRONT AGA is difficult to get away from in the first quarter-final of the Guinness Trophy at Curraheen Park tonight.

TYRUR ENDA will bid to continue his brilliant run of form when he lines out in the second round of the Red Mills Waterford Masters this evening.

TOMORROW is all about the future of Irish greyhound racing.

It is getting down to the serious end of affairs in the Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park and the talk of the greyhound world this week is that intriguing fourth quarter final to be run on Saturday night.

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.

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.

THE classy Rossa Baby can lay down an early marker in the €5,000 to-the-winner Oliver Hawkes Memorial Stakes at Curraheen Park by taking the first of tonight’s heats.

The College Causeway team will be anxious in advance of tomorrow’s Paddypower.com Irish Derby semi-finals at Shelbourne. A year ago their star tracker was a very strong favourite in advance of the semis but trouble down the far side saw him bid farewell to his prospects.

THE trap draw appears to have paved the way for Decent Prospect in the featured Open 575 at tonight’s benefit meet at Curraheen Park, in aid of Grenagh Community Sports Complex.

CURRAHEEN PARK stages a gala sponsored benefit meeting tonight in aid of Highfield Rugby Club, who are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year.

THE minute the draw was made for the 35,000 to the winner Cashmans Irish Laurels final, the debate on the possible outcome began, and has raged all week.