The 2026 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby is down to its last twelve at Shelbourne Park , with the quarter-finals now behind us and the semi-finals following this Saturday, 5th September, as the finest hounds from Ireland and the UK continue their pursuit of the most prestigious prize in Greyhound Racing.
The quarter-finals did plenty to sharpen the picture. Bouncing Monarch was, if anything, even more visually striking in accounting for Priceless Romeo by four and a half lengths in a new best-of-event 29.08, and remains the sole unbeaten runner left in the competition heading into the semi-finals.
It wasn't all straightforward for the market principals elsewhere, though: Pat Barrett 's 12/1 shot Croydon Avenger sprang the shock of the round in the opener, denying Coloursaregreen , while both Hackney Dancer and Waitingforastar saw their unbeaten records ended, by Sleight Of Hand and Low Profile respectively, though both safely made it through to Saturday's last twelve regardless.
BIGD Schedule
BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby Dates
1st Round: Friday 7th & Saturday 8th August 2nd Round: Friday 14th & Saturday 15th August 3rd Round: Saturday 22nd August Quarter-Finals: Saturday 29th August Semi-Finals: Saturday 5th September FINAL: Saturday 12th September
Outright Odds
BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby Odds
Dog | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Bouncing Monarch | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Wi Can James | 4/1 | 20% |
Waitingforastar | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Hackney Dancer | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Coloursaregreen | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Low Profile | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Im Here | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Bar | 20/1 | 4.8% |
BIGD Favourites
BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby Favourites
Bouncing Monarch
Bouncing Monarch - 11/8
Heading the market for the 2026 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby is Bouncing Monarch , whose odds of 11/8 represent a 42.1% chance of landing the classic for trainer Michael O'Donovan .
The Kirby Memorial champion is owned and bred by Dave Fradgley of Kinsley , England , who sent him to O'Donovan 's Tipperary yard specifically for the Derby campaign, a partnership that has now yielded nine wins from twelve starts.
He backed up his round two form with a two-and-a-half length defeat of Getup The Boy in round three (29.13), then stepped up again in the quarter-final, cruising four and a half lengths clear of Priceless Romeo in a new best-of-event 29.08.
He remains the sole unbeaten runner left in the competition and heads into Saturday's second semi-final from trap four, where he meets fellow quarter-final winners Low Profile and Sleight Of Hand , plus fellow leading fancy Wi Can James .
Wi Can James
Wi Can James – 4/1
Second in the market at 4/1 (20.0%) is Wi Can James , giving trainer Pat Guilfoyle a leading contender in this year's field alongside kennelmate Waitingforastar .
Beaten only once all campaign, when run down by Sleight Of Hand in round one, he has won every round since. Round three was his best effort yet, clocking the fastest time of the night in 29.10, equalling the competition best, as he led home Croydon Avenger by eight lengths.
He had to work harder in the quarter-final, overcoming a tricky draw in trap five in a stacked opening heat to book his spot in the last twelve. He joins Bouncing Monarch in Saturday's second semi-final, alongside Low Profile and Sleight Of Hand .
Waitingforastar
Waitingforastar – 5/1
Completing a big-race one-two-three for the market leaders is Waitingforastar , whose odds have shortened to 5/1 (16.7%) as trainer Pat Guilfoyle chases a second Irish Derby crown following Good News 's success back in 2017.
He made it three wins from three in round three, thrashing his heat seven rivals by ten and a half lengths in 29.13 to match Bouncing Monarch 's time from earlier in the night. His bid to make it four from four in the quarter-final was denied by Graham Holland 's Low Profile , who got up to beat him by just half a length in 29.21, Waitingforastar 's first defeat of the campaign.
He was, however, comfortably good enough to secure his place in the last twelve, and renews rivalry with Hackney Dancer and shock quarter-final winner Croydon Avenger in Saturday's opening semi-final.
Hackney Dancer
Hackney Dancer – 12/1
A new name among the leading fancies is Hackney Dancer , available at 12/1 (7.7%) and a second leading contender for the in-form yard of Michael O'Donovan alongside stable-mate Bouncing Monarch .
He was unbeaten through the first three rounds, winning on the opening night (29.37) as part of an O'Donovan treble, following up in round two (29.48), and then seeing off a narrowly-outpaced Im Here by two and a half lengths in round three (29.35).
His unbeaten record finally came to an end in the quarter-final, run down by Laurence Jones 's Sleight Of Hand in 29.53, but he did enough for the runner-up spot and a safe passage into Saturday's opening semi-final alongside Waitingforastar and Croydon Avenger .
Coloursaregreen
Coloursaregreen – 16/1
Among the outsiders at 16/1 (5.9%) is Coloursaregreen , trained by Paul Hennessy and already a big-race winner in 2026 courtesy of Tote Gold Cup glory for owners Brendan Cocoman and Ian Cunningham .
He announced himself in the Derby by springing a 7/1 surprise in round three, ending the previously unbeaten run of Sleight Of Hand with a 29.47 success. He couldn't quite repeat the trick in the quarter-final, run out of it by shock winner Croydon Avenger , but a length's defeat in 29.31 was more than good enough to book his place in the last twelve.
He is safely through to Saturday's semi-finals, looking to add the Irish Derby to an already growing list of honours.
Low Profile
Low Profile – 16/1
Also at 16/1 (5.9%) is Low Profile , trained by Graham Holland .
Sent off odds-on to make it three wins from three in round three, he could only finish third as Bombay Special sprang a surprise win, a rare blip in an otherwise progressive campaign.
He put that right in style in the quarter-final, digging in to deny Waitingforastar 's bid to go four from four, getting up by half a length in a smart 29.21. That result earns him a berth in Saturday's second semi-final, where he joins Bouncing Monarch and Wi Can James .
Im Here
Im Here – 16/1
Completing the shortlist at 16/1 (5.9%) is Im Here , trained by Peter Cronin for owner Aidan Comerford Snr .
He arrives with the best juvenile form in the remaining field, having landed the 2026 TIME Greyhound Nutrition Puppy Derby, but is yet to land a heat outright in the senior event itself. He narrowly led into the bend in round three's heat three before Hackney Dancer asserted from that point, going down by two and a half lengths, and he followed a similar pattern in the quarter-final, booking his spot in the last twelve again without troubling the judge for outright victory.
He heads into Saturday's semi-finals looking to finally turn that placed form into a heat win when it matters most.
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
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Bill is as passionate about Irish football as they come, with an agonising longing to see his country grace a World Cup stage. A League of Ireland devotee and lifelong Man United fan, he knows better than most what sporting heartbreak feels like, and brings that perspective to the BOYLE Sports Blog. With roots in greyhound racing and a curiosity spanning politics, snooker, WWE and beyond, there is rarely a sporting conversation he cannot add to.
