Six of the track’s best greyhounds that race over 540 metres will go to traps this Friday evening in a top grade S1 race to contest the final of the Owners Bonus Series event.

The two semi-finals were held last Saturday evening which resulted in wins for Teresas Babe and Leamaneigh Mick trained by Ian Stevens and Steve Gammon respectively.

The other qualifiers for the final who came home behind them were Uncle Blue, Juan Dog, Fernhill Fury and Mountcashel Gift. While Teresas Babe justified the bookmakers’ view winning at odds of even money, Leamaneigh Mick scored at odds of 3-1.

In his race, hot-favourite Denwill Rocket could only finish in fifth and was eliminated.

The win times would strongly suggest that Teresas Babe will again start as favourite, given her win time of 33.71sec compared to Leamaneigh Mick’s 34.08 which is as fast as he has gone to date in five races over this trip.

The question has to be can he make up the 0.37sec or, if you prefer, four and a half lengths in running to make a real race of the final?

Trainer Gammon only put Mick over 540m in early July for the first time and he has won twice and finished second in the other three so there is no doubt that he is useful over the distance and what can be guaranteed is that his trainer will send him out in peak condition on Friday.

I saw the dog at kennels on Sunday and he looks extremely well so if he is your selection then you would be hoping for not only an improved time but, perhaps more importantly, traffic problems for Teresas Babe.

Teresas Babe joined Stevens’ kennels and had her first race here in early April and was extremely impressive during July, winning four times.

Her semi-final win was the first time that she had broken the 34-sec barrier and running from trap one she showed early pace to the bend and took control prior to racing into the last two bends, coming home more than six lengths clear.

She would start in my book as a worthy favourite but in racing you have to look at every aspect of the race and I would be bold enough to say that she may not win from trap three in this final.

It is a bold statement but racing is full of imponderables and the stats show she has run three times from trap three and not won due to crowding.

The general opinion seems to be that she needs middle traps but I think she needs the inside.

Be wary of both Mick and, if given a run, Fernhill Fury, who has run a 33.80 in the past and would be a big price winner here if repeating.