/ Editor / 25 July 2008 / Leave a comment

The RTE cameras will be at Shelbourne Park on Saturday evening for the Champion Stakes and according to our Irish greyhounds' expert Sean Murphy, we might get to see this year's Irish Derby winner in action too.

The final of the 2008 Champion Stakes Final takes place at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night (July 26th). With €40,000 to the winner it is a lovely pot for just two runs with the three semi-finals run last Saturday night at the Ringsend venue. There were only two qualifiers from each heat and it shows the quality of the entry that the first three home in last year's Derby final all failed to qualify even though drawn in the same heat.

Aside from the lucrative Prize money on offer, winning connections can expect to be propelled to the top of the betting for the upcoming Irish Derby. To say that this is a quality field would be an understatement and it will take an awful lot of winning. A case can be made for all six runners but let's have a closer look at them in trap order.

Trap 1
Tyrur Kenny (Top Honcho - Tyrur Pearl)

Brilliant winner of the Tote Gold Cup and Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park earlier this year.
Had both Advantage Johnny and College Causeway behind when winning the Easter Cup final. Goes up well and stays the trip. Even though from the all conquering Paul Hennessy kennel the draw is horrible and much prefers the middle.

Trap 2
Killahan Panther (Droopys Kewell - Dianas Ranger)
Winner of 14 of his 16 races most of which were at top class amounts to huge consistency and awesome early pace. Unbeaten in six races at Shelbourne including a 29:75 semi final win last Saturday night. Ante post favourite for the Irish Derby and no wonder with a record like that.

Trap 3
Advantage Johnny (Larkhill Jo - Lughill Angel)
A real Shelbourne Park favourite who can fly to the bend. Has a tendency to move wide at first bend and this will be a big benefit to the two dogs inside him. Big Chance from this draw.

Trap 4
Shelbourne Aston ( Just the Best - Queen Survivor)
Is the outsider of the field and currently trading at [9.4] on Betfair. Will be coming home faster than any of them but may leave himself too much to do. Cannot see him winning.

Trap 5
College Causeway (Go Wild Teddy - College Tina)
One of the most exciting dogs to watch in the country. Worthy winner of Ladroke 600 and is a very fast finisher. Seems to trap better these days and loves the sweeping bends in Shelboune Park. Nicely housed in trap 5 and is a massive price at [5.1] on Betfair.

Trap 6
Mid West Blue (Droopys Maldini - Middle Honcho)
Really caught the eye coming home second to Killahan Panther last Saturday night only failing by a neck in the end. A much improved greyhound that may just lack that little yard of early to get around this quality of a field. Will be doing all its best work at the finish.

Summary
One of the best Champion stakes finals in years and a really tasty preview for next month's Irish Derby. It brings together the winners of 69 races between them amounting to over €200,000 in Prize money. In what I expect to be a classic I take Killahan Panther to continue his winning streak at Shelbourne leading home from College Causeway and Mid West Blue. Take the [3.3] available on Betfair about Killahan Panther and the [17.5] for the Irish Derby. I don't expect him to be that price on Monday.

Recommended:
3pts Win Killahan Panther
Trio: 2, 5 & 6

Tags: Advantage Johnny, College Causeway, Greyhound Racing Betting, Irish Champion Stakes, Irish Derby, Irish Greyhound Racing Betting, Midwest blue, Shelbourne Park