Cain looks most able

The final of the Larry Dunne Open 525 headlines tonight’s action and Droopys Cain can justify favouritism in the €10,000 to-the-winner contest.

Though he has only seven races under his belt, the John Linehan-trained powerhouse is already clear second favourite for the Irish Derby later in the summer.

His rise to prominence has been meteoric and his incredible finishing speed, which has carried him to six victories from those seven outings, can see him home in front again.

Amongst his rivals are the strong-running Skywalker Puma and Sparta Maestro, who won last year’s Puppy Derby and was narrowly beaten in the Waterford Masters.

The withdrawal of Bling Bling Buzz from trap five should work in favour of the latter as the reserve, Tyrur Lanney, normally favours a rails pitch. This should give Sparta Maestro room to race and if he gets clear early, he’ll be difficult to reel in.

But they’ll all need to produce something extra special to beat Droopys Cain, who posted a brilliant 28.19 in the semi-final, becoming only the third greyhound to record faster than 28.20 around Shelbourne Park, after Milldean Panther (three times) and Premier Fantasy.

It all points to a thrilling decider but Droopys Cain makes most appeal.

The Lee Strand 550 comes to a conclusion at Tralee this evening and the star performers of the stake to date, Money Talks and Soviet Lightning, clash for the first time.€

The draw seems to favour Money Talks, and on his semi-final form, he is the one to beat.