The Greyhound & Petworld A1 525, with a winner’s prize of €5,000, featured on a great card on Saturday night at Curraheen, and ultra-reliable Laurels runner-up Burgess Rumble landed the spoils in some style.

Following in the paw-prints of 1990 winner Adraville Bridge and 2003 champ Nikita Billie, Midtown Raffa gave trainer Mossy O’Connor a third Laurels success with a thoroughly authoritative display in Saturday night’s decider at Curraheen Park.

Following his semi-final victory and a favourable draw 2014 Consolation winner Midtown Raffa will likely head the market for next weekend’s final of the Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park.

Barefoot Apollo became the standard setter during an eventful second stage of the Irish Laurels on Saturday night at Curraheen Park.

The draw for the 2015 Irish Laurels was made yesterday afternoon at Curraheen Park and, despite concerns of a lack of numbers, management have brought together 66 greyhounds for Saturday night’s opening round.