Trio likely to make Derby line-up

The Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby is building up to a wonderful climax and we are in for some magnificent racing at Shelbourne on Saturday when the quarter finals will be backed up by the second round heats of the Derby Plate.

There have been no reports of any fresh injuries but there have been encouraging reports regarding the condition of Tyrur McGuigan, Tyrur Big Mike and Razldazl Bugatti, all of whom were under veterinary care last week.

The one doubt that did emerge was Ballymac Mitsy but, despite coming in season last week, she will take her place in the opening heat on Saturday. Liam Dowling has confirmed that the bitch was four days in season when she ran second behind Tyrur McGuigan on Saturday. He said: “She’s in good form and I will let her take her chance and see what happens”.

Looking forward to Derby final night on September 10th, the card will be an all open 12 race card with the winners receiving between €1,000 and €1,500 while the winner of the Ladbrokes.com International 750 will earn €2,000.

The races will be opens over 350, 525, Bitch 525, Puppy 525, 550, 575, 600, 750 and 850 and they will all close on Tuesday, September 12th at noon.

There have been no British entries to date for the International 750 for which Wonder Wag and Droopys Casanova are the early local entries. Yes Boss has been entered for a sprint contest while Express Trend, Mohane Patient and Racenight Meg are entries for the 850 contest.

The traps have been a major issue among greyhound followers over the past couple of years and the new style traps which have recently been introduced at Limerick and Shelbourne, having been successfully tested at Waterford, have been warmly welcomed.

Now comes the news that the new style trap is to be introduced in time for the Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels at Curraheen. The new traps are operated by a spring loaded mechanism as opposed to the older pneumatic ram system and the result is faster opening of the trap lids.

It will be interesting to see if the new trap brings about an end to the trap bias which has been evident at Curraheen. On the evidence of other tracks with the new trap, that should be the case.

News from Waterford is that leading local hotelier Paul McDaid is to take over the interim catering contract at Kilcohan Park from tomorrow night. McDaid was previously the President of Waterford Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Irish Hotel Federation South East Branch. He has previously managed the five star Faithlegg House and the Tower Hotel and he will be a major asset to the track. McDaid will be running all catering facilities at the track, including the restaurant, fast food outlet and the bars.

Elsewhere this weekend the second round of the Mullingar Agri Store Fair Warrior Sprint will be run on Saturday at the midlands venue while the final of the Head Bound Open Puppy Stake will see Milldean Panther in action at Thurles the same night.

The two semi-finals of the very competitive €3,500 to the winner Liberty Mutual A1 600 will be run at Limerick on Friday. There was a quite superb run from Tom Lennon’s Lemon Belle last week when she clocked 32.21 and she must be a strong fancy to land this nice competition. This meeting will be a fundraiser for Cairdeas Respite Centre.