Shelbourne Park will be in danger of bursting at the seams this evening as the Ladbrokes Irish Derby draws to what should be a thrilling conclusion.

Skywalker Puma and Cuil Cougar both produced foot-perfect displays to dominate their respective semi-finals of the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby at Shelbourne on Saturday.

There will be agony and ecstasy in equal measures at Shelbourne Park this evening as the final 12 will be reduced to six in the Ladbrokes Irish Derby.

Not only did the clear favourite, Ballymac Vic, make his exit but Tyrur Sugar Ray went from being a dog of big potential to the one to beat following a breath-taking victory in a scarcely believable 29.29 in the Ladbrokes Irish Derby quarter-finals at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

Only 22 will take their place in this evening’s quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby following the withdrawal of Stay Thirsty early in the week and the sad news that Broadstrand Lad has run his last race.

The 23 remaining contenders will go to war in the four quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes Irish Derby at Shelburne on Saturday and the big task is in pin-pointing the six dogs likely to make it all the way to the final on September 8th.

It was a sensational session at Shelbourne last night as the second lot of heats in the Ladbrokes Irish Derby were run.

With the start of the Ladbrokes.com Derby only days away it’s no surprise tonight’s card at Shelbourne Park is rather low key. As of yesterday afternoon there were 92 confirmed for the Derby with entries closing tonight after racing.

There should be a huge crowd in Dundalk this evening where Milldean Panther returns to action in the Boylesports International .

With the Champion Stakes and Derby just around the corner, there are no major competitions currently underway and as a result it’s one of the more low-key Saturday night’s at Shelbourne.