Many of the top fancies go into action in the Ladbrokes Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park tonight.

The Ladbrokes Irish Derby moves a step further tonight with eight more first round heats at Shelbourne and this session will see the majority of the very strong Dolores Ruth team swinging into action.

Fresh from his brilliant victory in the Champion Stakes just 11 days ago, Droopys Jet is set to provide a high-profile start to the Ladbrokes Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park tonight.

Last Saturday’s spectacular racing at Shelbourne really whetted the appetite for the forthcoming Ladbrokes Irish Derby.

The final of the Larry Dunne Open 525 headlines tonight’s action and Droopys Cain can justify favouritism in the €10,000 to-the-winner contest.

Broadstrand Lad and Tyrur Big Mike may have turned four years of age last weekend, but the two brilliant performers retain every ounce of their ability if their latest displays in the Easter Cup are an accurate indication.

Derby champion Razldazl George will make his seasonal bow this evening when he lines out in the opening round of the College Causeway/Killahan Phanter Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park.

There should be a fine welcome for recently-crowned Sprinter of the Year Shoemakers Lad when he turns up at Curraheen Park for the semi-finals of the Kudos Supersprint on Saturday.

After suffering the first defeat of his career in the semi finals of the SIS Live Gold Cup last weekend, the bookmakers clearly feel Milldean Panther will return to his best this evening and claim the €30,000 winner’s prize.

He may have lost his unbeaten tag but Milldean Panther remains the talk of the greyhound world and he will attempt to get back on the winning rails when he contests the final of the €30,000 SIS Live Shelbourne Gold Cup on Saturday night.

There’s simply no stopping Rathangan greyhound trainer Dolores Ruth.

Milldean Panther makes his eagerly awaited re-appearance at Shelbourne Park tonight in the SIS Live Gold Cup.

Broadstrand Lad may be approaching his fourth birthday, but the brilliant son of Hallucinate retains all his ability and he will be bidding for the biggest title of his career when he lines out in the final of the Tyrur McGuigan @ Stud Open 575.

THE Joe Dunne Memorial Puppy Stake will be run as a 24 dog event at Shelbourne but the traditional early season classic trial has plenty of quality and the four heats when added to the semi-finals of the Tyrur McGuigan Open 575 will make Saturday’s card at headquarters another high class affair.

AFTER a stunning opening round effort Broadstrand Lad was promoted to clear favourite for the Tyrur McGuigan @ Stud Open 575 and his position in the market has been strengthened further with the withdrawal of Royal Patrol.

BLARNEY trainer John Linehan enjoyed his best season as a trainer last year and 2012 has got off to a smashing start also.

DOLORES Ruth’s magnificent year continued at Shelbourne Park when she was presented with the Irish Greyhound Review Personality of the Year Award.

DESPITE the gloomy economic climate, it has been a tremendous year for greyhound racing.

PATRONS should get to Shelbourne Park early on Saturday night.

THE Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby got off to a tremendous start at Shelbourne Park last night with some fabulous performances.

KNOCKNA FINBAR, unlucky when failing to land the odds last time, can set the record straight by taking the seventh race at Youghal tonight.

THE Townviewfoods.com Champion Stakes will come to a conclusion at Shelbourne Park this evening and fireworks are expected in the €20,000 contest.

We are now on the verge of the most important part in the Irish greyhound calendar.

EIGHTEEN of Ireland’s best will tonight battle it out for a place in the final of the €€20,000 townviewfoods.com Champion Stakes. All three semi-finals look exceptionally open and, with only two to qualify from each heat, there is little room for error.

CURRYHILLS HAWKI can strike for the bang-in-form John Linehan team in the first semi-final of the A5 Sweepstake at Curraheen Park tonight.

It may be only six months since the 2010 Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger final was run at the brand new Limerick Stadium but a huge crowd will be convening again on Saturday to savour the 2011 decider where there will be very strong local interest.

GREYHOUND followers have classic action on three fronts on Saturday night.

IT’S another busy week on the tracks with top action all over the country.

IRISH hopes of winning the williamhill.com English Derby hit a speed bump at Wimbledon on Tuesday night with the elimination of Razldazl Jayfkay, but we remain in a dominant position with Barefoot Bullet, Razldazl George and Melodys Royal all hold outstanding claims in this evening’s semi-finals.

TRAINER John Linehan and owner Kieran Ryan obviously have serious ambitions in this year's Sporting Press Irish Oaks at Shelbourne.

PUPPY OAKS champion Droopys Twirl, is the likely favourite for the Sporting Press Irish Oaks which starts at Shelbourne tomorrow night.

THERE are no major competitions currently in progress at Shelbourne Park but tonight’s card is packed with real quality as many of Ireland’s fastest trackers prepare for their respective targets.

This weekend must rank as just about the busiest of the year, with five major finals for decision and 21 Irish dogs in action in the Williamhill.com English Derby at Wimbledon.

The appointment of Phil Meaney as Chairman of Bord na gCon, as exclusively reported in yesterday’s Irish Examiner, was confirmed yesterday morning by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney.

DOLORES Ruth is responsible for the favourite in both semi-finals of the College Causeway/Killahan Phanter Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park this evening and while both look likely to qualify for next week's final they will need to be on their toes to emerge on top this evening.

It’s another very exciting week with top class open racing at many venues.

THERE was a major surprise when reserve Rockview Head won a thrilling Gallivan-Murphy-Hooper-Dolan €15,000 Juvenile Classic final at the Kingdom Greyhound stadium last night, but only after a photo finish.

THE anticipated announcement of the new chairman of the Irish Greyhound Board didn’t materialise yesterday but word is now expected before the end of the week.

THE impending closure of Newbridge cast a gloom over the Irish greyhound industry this week but there is strong reason to hope it can rise from the ruins of this development.

IRELAND’S finest will be in action at Shelbourne Park this evening in the second round of the Tote Gold Cup. Last weekend’s action featured many superb performances and more of the same is expected tonight.

FEARS that the current economic problems would decimate the sponsorship scene have proved unfounded and there was double good news this week with confirmation that existing sponsorship of the Easter Cup at Shelbourne and the Produce Stakes at Clonmel is to continue this year.