Three weeks down, three more to go in the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby and, of the first half of the classic, one thing is certain: Ballymac Matt has been dominant.

Round two of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby provided some relief for bookmakers, after a predictably favourable opening session for punters. However, most of the big names have survived the cull, and remain leading hopes for outright honours.

Outright favourite Ballymac Matt produced another faultless display, when posting the fastest time of the second round of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby on Saturday night at Shelbourne Park.

The late absence of reigning champ Laughil Blake was the only disappointment in the first round of the Boylesports.com Irish Greyhound Derby, from which Ballymac Matt emerged with reputation most enhanced following his scintillating 29.43 success on Thursday.

One hundred and forty-four greyhounds will contest the opening round of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby, following the draw, which took place yesterday morning at Shelbourne Park.

Rising Twirl looks the best bet in tonight’s quarter-final of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks at Shelbourne Park.

The Laurels final went off well, with a performance befitting a champion, and now the Curraheen wagon rolls on to the Barry’s Tea, which starts in little more than a week. Entries for that stake close next Tuesday, May 19, with the heats four days later.

Following last week’s brilliant run in the semi-finals of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial at Limerick, it’s hard to look beyond Rural Hawaii in tonight’s decider for the €80,000-to-the-winner stake.

The main action of the weekend took place in Limerick, where the semi-finals of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial took place, and Rural Hawaii set the standard when readily accounting for the previously unbeaten Droopys Braedon.

There was drama in the second round of the Easter Cup on Saturday night at Shelbourne Park, as Derby champ Laughil Blake exited the competition after finding trouble at the first turn in a red-hot third heat.