BOTH Shelbourne Park and Limerick will play host to a number of Ireland’s finest this evening as the Tote Gold Cup and Roche’s Feeds Oaks commence at the respective venues.

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.

THESE may be depressing times but for greyhound followers there is some consolation in the quality of racing being staged countrywide.

Within shouting distance of Christmas and here we are in a situation where the greyhound action is absolutely red hot with the Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger commencing tomorrow at Limerick Stadium while on Saturday at Shelbourne the first round of the Comerford Cakes National Puppy Stake will fire into action.