Dundalk's big day looms

Dundalk will bring the worlds of horse and greyhound racing together as part of a marathon day of sport at the County Louth venue on Thursday.

The Boylesports.com Dual Race Day kicks off with the first of seven events on the all-weather surface at 2.20pm, with the highlight being an appearance from Jessica Harrington's top-class novice hurdler Steps To Freedom in the Boylesports.com Handicap.

It is also Ladies Day, featuring a Marshes Shopping Centre-sponsored competition for the best-dressed lady, and just an hour after the equine action concludes, the dogs take over at the same site.

The best is saved for nearly last, as the feature event of the card, the Boylesports International, features perhaps the country's best-known greyhound in Milldean Panther.

John O'Flynn's sensation finished last year unbeaten in 10 starts and has only been beaten twice in 16 career outings.

The sponsors also have a deal to back the dog, and Boylesports' spokesman Leon Blanche said: "It's an all-day event, and it's certainly going to be a long day.

"I'd think the bigger crowd would come to the greyhounds and this is the most valuable one-off race to be run in Europe.

"We took a punt on sponsoring Milldean Panther for the year. He got beaten for the first time in the SiS Live Gold Cup and got a bit of an injury, but we make him the 7-4 favourite and he's 6-1 favourite to win the Irish Derby.

"It's a shame there are no English runners coming over, as it's worth €20,000, but it's still a cracking race.

"You've got last year's Irish Derby winner Razldazl George, there's Kingo, who is a very fast dog, and a real improver in Quail Hollow.

"Milldean Panther is an inside runner but has been drawn in trap six and there has been plenty of money coming for the Irish Oaks winner, Milldean Tally, who is from the same kennel."

Emma Meehan, Dundalk's sales and marketing manager, said: "We have held horse and greyhound race meetings on the same day before but this is our biggest day of the year and we're looking at bringing in a crowd in the region of 4,500.

"We'd often get 1,500 in for a Friday night race meeting but the International is a one-off invitational event and it's very exciting to have Milldean Panther appearing at the track. It will be interesting to see how he gets on."