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.

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.

Although the quarter-finals of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks topped Saturday’s programme at Shelbourne, the greyhound most were looking forward to seeing was Droopys Nidge, who had produced the fastest ever debut in Ireland when posting 28.09 in the first round of the ECC Timber Champion Puppy Stake.