Spirit Derby plunge looking justified

Limerick may not have enjoyed the best of luck at Croke Park last Sunday but greyhounds from the county are performing heroically in the Paddypower.com Irish Derby with both Shaneboy Lee and St Louis Spirit figuring among the top three favourites as we approach the third round of the classic at Shelbourne on Saturday night.

While College Causeway is firmly at the top of the betting lists with virtually all firms, Shaneboy Lee is a close second favourite at 7-1 and St Louis Spirit next at a best priced 8-1. Both Limerick dogs have been running out of their skin and are serious players in this Derby.

Whereas Shaneboy Lee had posted his credentials when contesting the Champion Stakes, we had to wait until the owners had plunged at 100-1 before St Louis Spirit was unleashed on the unsuspecting Dublin layers in the first round of the Derby.