THE glittering final of the Caledonia Smooth Gold Cup, with a prize of £5,000 to the winner and backed up by a superb support programme, takes place at Drumbo Park tomorrow night.
The competition has thrown up some great racing and a few big surprises so far in the earlier rounds, resulting in what should be one of the most open finals ever to be staged at the Lambeg venue.
The trap draw for the final has been less than kind to some of the leading fancies and all the contenders will be making the trip to Drumbo in confident mood.
Divis View, owned by Belfast optician Dessie Gilroy and trained by Michael Taggart, has perhaps landed the best draws and justifies marginal favouritism as he is currently quoted at 2/1 by the on-course layers to lift the prize.
Unbeaten in the competition so far and ultra-consistent in terms of his times over the 525 yards, Divis would be a popular winner among the regular Drumbo punters.
His main danger would appear to be the Dudley Wilmot-owned Atitboy.
Trained by Hillsborough maestro Ronnie McKeown, Atitboy has already landed the Toal's Bookmakers Northern Irish Derby, staged at Drumbo earlier this year, and was last week's fastest semi-final winner, posting a superb time of 28.32 secs.
The draw, however, is a major concern for his followers and the 'Boy will require a trouble-free run around the opening turns if he is to figure in the shake-up.
Another major threat will be the Allen Agnew-owned Kincraig Rory.
He's back with Allen after a spell in England, where he reached the final of the prestigious William Hill Greyhound Derby.
That form ranks him with the very best in training.
He has been unlucky so far in the competition and needs to rediscover his lightning-quick trapping ability in tomorrow's final.
That said from a tough berth in trap five, there will be no room for error for Kincraig Rory.
The three outsiders of the sextet Are Nalps Crash, Taepot Hill and Swift Iniesta, but all of their chances have been greatly improved by the draw.
Nalps, owned by Ballymena handler Helen Morrison, is ideally housed in trap one, and has been on the comeback trail from injury and improving with every run.
He will be available at a big price in the ring and some shrewd punters could be tempted.
Taepot Hill, drawn in trap three, probably lacks the early speed required for this event but she is without question the strongest stayer in the field.
She will be a major player in the closing stages if she can stay in touch.
The real dark horse in the event, however, could be Swift Iniesta, drawn in trap four.
Scottish owner Alex Callaghan and Dundalk-based trainer Martin Lanney were delighted with the draw on Monday and are hoping that Iniesta can rediscover the form that landed him the Junior Cup here back in May, in a fastest time of the year to date of 28.31.
A thrilling final is in prospect and a large crowd is expected to attend one of the biggest nights of the year for Drumbo greyhound racing track.
LATEST BETTING
Caledonia Smooth Gold Cup final - 525 Yards Trap 1: Nalps Crash 9/2
Trap 2: Divis View 2/1f Trap 3: Taepot Hill 5/1 Trap 4: Swift Iniesta 3/1 Trap 5: Kincraig Rory 4/1 Trap 6: Atitboy 7/2
n Prices quoted by Markone Racing