The extravaganza that is the English Greyhound Derby gets underway with 13 heats this evening at Wimbledon.

Escapism, trained by Owen McKenna for Eimear Coffey, Youghal, landed the GMHD Juvenile Classic with a powerful effort on Friday night in Tralee.

Slippery Fred landed the final of the 2016 Best Car Parks Gold Cup but not before giving his considerable band of supporters an early scare in the feature on Saturday night’s high-class card at Shelbourne Park.

Ian Reilly’s two runners put down the early markers in the opening round of the Greyhound & Petworld Supersprint, Quietly doing so in the best possible fashion – with a record-breaking run in the very first heat.

There was a shock in the first semi-final of the Best Car Parks Gold Cup on Saturday night at Shelbourne Park, in which 10-1 chance Painstown Chief produced a game effort to see off all-comers.

Round two of the Gain Cup 2016 dominated proceedings at Curraheen Park on Saturday night, and Sean Dunphy’s Bar The Sizzler set the standard when routing the opposition in the second heat.

The highlight of the weekend’s action in Ireland is the Grade 2 Boylesports Tied Cottage Chase which takes place tomorrow afternoon at Punchestown, and Felix Yonger looks likely to justify odds-on favouritism for Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins.

Snowy Free can take the opening race of 2016 at Curraheen Park for Eamonn and Rachel Morton.

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.

There was a huge upset in last night’s final of the Bank of Ireland Produce Stakes in Clonmel last night as Ballybough Mondo made all the running to land the spoils for Murt Leahy and owner Pat Carroll, Kilkenny.

Shannon Airport Authority has raised serious concerns over the viability of a proposed multi-million euro development at the Westpark Business Centre in Shannon.

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

A majority of companies believe there are more threats to revenue growth now than three years ago, but a majority also believe there are more growth opportunities now than before, according to PwC’s 18th annual global CEO survey.

Irish family businesses are among the least prepared to take advantage of commercial opportunities presented by an increasingly digitalised business environment.

Derby champ Laughil Blake and the immensely talented Droopys Nidge gave further credence, if it were needed, to the ‘Night of Stars’ moniker as they produced stellar performances on Saturday at Shelbourne Park.

There was real drama in the final of the Gain Feeds Select Stakes on Saturday night at Waterford, from which the tremendously consistent Southest Suzie emerged victorious for Daniel Frayne of Wexford.

Darragh Morrissey, Paul Hennessy and Graham Holland all recorded doubles in the first round of the 2014 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels on Saturday night at Curraheen Park, but it was the John Kavanagh-trained Vimmerby who set the bar highest with his terrific display in the second of the 13 heats.

The Pat Buckley-trained Mind The Net set the standard in Saturday’s third-round heats of the English Greyhound Derby, when coming from behind the pace to take the third heat.

Boylesports Hero will be the favourite to land next weekend’s final of the €80,000-to-the-winner Con and Annie Kirby Memorial at Limerick following a scintillating display of raw pace in Saturday night’s semi-final.

Advancing the notion that trap is more important than trip, Laurels Consolation winner Tyford Tip made all the running from his preferred draw along the fence when taking Saturday night’s second heat of the Two Wheel Training A1 525 at Curraheen Park.

Families and friends of people lost through suicide attended remembrance ceremonies throughout the country yesterday organised by the national suicide prevention and bereavement charity, Console.

Jaytee Hellcat put his name in the mix for outright honours in the Kerry AgriBusiness St Leger when proving far too strong for his rivals in Saturday’s second quarter-final at Limerick.

The Kerry AgriBusiness St Leger has reached the quarter-final stage and tonight’s four heats feature the clash between two strong fancies for outright glory, Roxholme Bully and Skywalker Farloe, in the third heat.

Paradise Madison’s ability remains fully intact and the Derby is now firmly in his sights.

Locnamon Bridie, trained by Paul Hennessy for Bill Chawke, came out on top in a thrilling finish to the final of the Christmas Oaks at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

After Willie Mullins’ Zaidpour had landed the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse last Sunday, everyone wanted to know what the Cheltenham target for the six-year-old would be.

I thought it was gas as bookmakers’ representatives, literally, fell over themselves attempting to better each other with reaction to Hurricane Fly’s success in last Sunday’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

Nearly 80% of family -owned businesses anticipate sales growth and business expansion over the next five years, according to a new survey.

The question marks over Sparta Maestro’s participation in tonight’s second semi-final of the Kerry Agribusiness St Leger at Limerick leave a lingering shadow over the race as a punting medium but, more importantly, over the stake as a whole.

By trainer Paul Hennessy’s own admission, Priceless Sky is not very well known on the Open Race circuit but heading into Saturday night’s semi-finals of the Kerry Agribusiness St Leger, he’s vying for outright favouritism with Derby winner Skywalker Puma and former Puppy Derby winner Sparta Maestro.

The quarter-finals of the Kerry Agribusiness St Leger feature at Limerick track this evening and Skywalker Puma, who came out best in a hot second-round heat, looks to have a straightforward task in the last of tonight’s heats.

The Kerry Agri-Business St Leger gets underway at Limerick tonight and Derby champion Skywalker Puma returns to competitive action for the first time since his stunning success in Ireland’s premier classic.

The 2012 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels comes to a climax at Curraheen Park tonight and the Graham Holland-trained Knockglass Billy can land the prestigious trophy for owner Martin Murphy, of Ladysbridge.

Tonight’s quarter-finals of the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels have an awful lot to live up to after last Saturday night’s spectacular fare, in which Ballymac Vic broke the 28-second barrier with a faultless display.

Saturday night’s second-round action in the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels saw racing at Curraheen Park brought to a whole new level when Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Vic became the first greyhound to break the 28-second barrier in competitive action at the venue.

Ballymac Vic, who was beginning to make a real impact on the Irish Derby when his challenge was cut short at the quarter-final stage, came out on top in the hottest of last Saturday night’s opening-round heats of the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park and he rates nap material to follow up this evening.

The 2012 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels gets underway tonight and all 11 first-round heats consume the bumper programme.