Greyhound Racing Derby Final: Climate Control will be a very hot favourite to take the biggest prize in greyhound racing when he lines up for the final of the Paddy Power Greyhound Derby tonight at Shelbourne Park.
The Carlow-trained dog has topped the Derby betting for five months, and his progress in the five rounds to date has been nearly faultless. His only defeat came in the quarter-finals and his conqueror then, King's Cadet, crashed out injured in last week's semis.
Ideally drawn in trap five and blessed with lightning early pace, he is a lengthy odds-on with the bookies to land the €150,000 prize, and give trainer Séamus Graham his third success in what is the world's richest dog race.
A wide seed, Climate Control started the last three rounds from trap six. But he appears to favour the number five box, and so do recent race statistics. If he justifies his billing tonight, he will make it four Derby wins in five years for dogs in the orange jacket.
The race is no foregone conclusion, however. Droopy's Joel in trap two ran his fastest time in the competition last weekend when winning in 29.73. If he can avoid traffic problems early on, he could be coming good at just the right moment.
The only bitch in the race, Mustang Mega, may also have timing on her side. A fast breaker, she is perfectly drawn in trap four.
Limerick dog Maryville Rumble has a chance too. But if either First Charter or the solitary UK raider La Fontaine have their noses in front at the finish, it would be a big upset.
The President Mary McAleese will present the winning trophy at Shelbourne. The 12-race card starts at 7.30, with live TV coverage on Network 2 and Sky Sports.
IRISH GREYHOUND DERBY FINAL (Shelbourne Park, 9.46 p.m. approx): Trap 1, La Fontaine; 2, Droopy's Joel; 3, First Charter; 4, Mustang Mega; 5, Climate Control; 6, Maryville Rumble.
