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.

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.

In Saturday night's second session of the first round of the ETS Irish Greyhound Derby, the bookmakers enjoyed some great results, most notably when that brilliant servant Abbeyville Tipp triumphed in a race in which Droopys Jet and Ballymac Vic were both eclipsed.

Seeing as not one bookmaking firm has put up prices for the Red Mills Irish Laurels, we will try to sort out the likely ante-post fancies for the classic which commences on Saturday at Curraheen Park.

When Owen McKenna’s Confident Rankin went around Curraheen in 28.25 in a trial last Friday he sent out a message that the Red Mills Irish Laurels is not going to be easily won.

Razldazl Jayfkay created history in the second round of the williamhill.com English Derby at Wimbledon when posting new figures for the 480 metre trip.

Virginia Kerr will perform the famous Requiem at the opening of the Cork International Choral Festival, writes Colette Sheridan

THE summer staging of the London Olympics and the Euro Championships have had the combined effect of making the early season build-up to the English Derby a rather rushed affair.

A MOST eventful year on the Irish greyhound front accelerates towards its end and it will finish as it began - with a flurry of top class open action all over the country.

A judge has called on social services to investigate the welfare of a baby girl who was brought out begging on a Dublin street by her pregnant teenage mother.

A FEW issues became clear at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night. First, Shaneboy Fantasy and Peggys Style indicated they have a big future over six bends after impressing in the semi-finals of the Mannions Builders Supplies Open 750, while Milldean Panther showed yet again he is a greyhound of rare talent.

THE Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels is building up to a huge crescendo with two fantastic semi-finals lined up for Saturday night.

TWO dogs harbouring genuine hopes of outright honours clashed in Saturday night’s second round of the Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels, and Rockchase Bullet wowed the Curraheen crowd when coming from a seemingly impossible position to claim a dramatic victory over Sede Vacante in the third heat.

AFTER the events of the quarter-finals of two weeks ago, it’s unsurprising that tonight’s final of the Ladbrokes.com Irish Greyhound Derby has a very open look about it.

SHELBOURNE Park will be bursting at the seams for tonight’s decider of the Ladbrokes.com Derby.

WELL, here are virtually on the eve of the biggest day of the year in greyhound sport - the final of the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park and all is in readiness for what promises to be the night of all nights.

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.

The entries are rolling in for the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby and it now looks certain that the target of 144 entries will be received by Friday’s closing date. Up to late yesterday evening there were almost 100 names in the book and with some of the top kennels yet to confirm their plans.

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

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.

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

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.

There will be no exporting of greyhounds from Ireland to China, in the near future at least.

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 greyhound followers in the south-east will be in upbeat mood tonight as Enniscorthy Track reopens its doors after a period of great uncertainty.

HOPEFULLY we can cease writing about the weather and concentrate on the racing side of things and this week sees the commencement of the Tyrur McGuigan Open 575 at Shelbourne and the Vetsearch Kennedy Cup at Limerick.

The College Causeway/Killahan Phanter Easter Cup picture changed drastically yesterday when two high-profile withdrawals from next Saturday’s second round resulted in Thurlesbeg Joker becoming a very hot favourite to land the prestigious Shelbourne Park feature.

The high quality of racing in the opening round will have whet the appetites of southern greyhound followers and we can anticipate a massive attendance at Curraheen Park on Saturday for the second round of the Cashmans Bookmakers Irish Laurels.

You just can’t keep College Causeway out of the headlines.

EAST Cork trainer Denis Fitzgerald, whose Hitman Hatton produced a big run (28.65) in the second round of the Texacloth Puppy Derby at Newbridge on Friday night, is also very much in the hunt for the AIB Stakes at Curraheen Park after Clearwater Jack took heat two in the second round of the event in 28.52 on Saturday night.

DAIRYLAND TOM, the star of the opening round of the AIB Bank Stakes when a runaway winner in 28.64, duly followed up in the opening heat of Saturday's second round ... but not in the expected manner.

I WISH to voice my support for A&E staff, especially those at the Mercy Hospital, Cork.

Cork 2-9 Limerick 0-13