Irish Greyhound Laurels expected to bring huge crowds to Curraheen Park for the next five weeks

THE draw for the 2023 Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels took place at Curraheen Park on Monday night. 

In association with the Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing, it promises to be another fantastic class and big crowds are expected in Curraheen Park over the next five weeks.

12-first round heats will take place this coming Saturday night, with the feature final on Saturday, October 14.

As expected, it has attracted another high-class entry. 

In terms of possible winners, I'm going to side with the Graham Holland-trained Swords Rex, who was third in late years final, from a poor draw, out in trap six. 

A star in the recent English Greyhound Derby, it just didn't happen for him in the final when he produced his slowest start of the event. Swords Rex was knocked out of the Irish Greyhound Derby after he lost all chance when stumbling from boxes. 

Holland has freshened him up since and he posted a really impressive 28.15 winning run around course and distance last week. 

One of Ireland's quickest in recent years, he looks the obvious pick for me and he's worthy of market support for outright glory.

Liam Dowling's Ballymac Marino is next best. He started his racing career below in the Kingdom, winning the Greyhound & Petworld Juvenile Classic, clocking 28.09 in the decider. 

He impressed in the early round of the English Greyhound Derby before bowing out in the fourth round when sent off at short odds. 

When doing things right, he is as quick as away. Like most, he will be looking for the rails pitch and the classy performer is expected to be involved in the business end of the event.

The David Murray trained Carrick Aldo, a winner of the Bar One Sprint Cup at Dundalk recently, is another with major claims. 

A 28.17 spin around the Cork circuit tells us he has the pace to go all the way.

A Cork winner is always a popular winner and Burgess Supreme should go well for the Killeagh kennel of Sheila Spillane and JJ Fennelly. The Produce Stakes winner from Clonmel posted 28.39 in a recent trial and with improvement expected, he's another that should be in the mix in the business end of the competition.

Easy Razzle, a winner of the David Collins Memorial Munster Oaks in Waterford on Saturday night, is a strong hope for Blarney trainer John Linehan. 

Both Droopys Beglin and Droopys High Bar are other talented sorts for the local trainer who won this great event in 2020 with Runninta Seeya.

Tracton trainer Kieran Lynch won the Laurels in 2018 and 2019 with Rockybay Foley and his best hope could be with Move To Soon.