Following last year’s memorable renewal, the 2026 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby is set for its usual summer slot, beginning in August and concluding in September at Shelbourne Park , where the finest hounds from Ireland and the UK battle it out for the most prestigious prize in Greyhound Racing.
The reigning Champion is Cheap Sandwiches , who delivered a brilliant performance to win the 2025 event for trainer Graham Holland, claiming a record fifth Irish Derby in the process. The Graham Holland runner went off the 4/5 favourite and justified that market confidence in dominant fashion to land the €125,000 first prize. However, the champion, known to fans as Sambo, has since been retired after a stellar career, so he won't be back to defend his crown in 2026.
With the champion out of the picture, round two did plenty to sharpen the picture further. Kirby Memorial hero Bouncing Monarch was again the standout, cruising to a four-length win from Ballydoyle Tina in a best-of-night 29.11 to be backed into 3/1 favouritism, while there was a huge shock elsewhere as odds-on favourite Ballymac Deniro was eliminated following a missed break and traffic trouble at halfway.
Pat Guilfoyle enjoyed a fine night courtesy of a Waitingforastar and Wi Can James double, Liam Dowling 's Solo And Go got the better of Lennies Dynamic for the second round running, and 2024 champion Bockos Diamond continued to show he remains a major player, leaving a fascinating six strong group at the head of the market heading into round three.
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 | 3/1 | 25% |
Wi Can James | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Solo And Go | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Bockos Diamond | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Waitingforastar | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Sleight Of Hand | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Low Profile | 16/1 | 6.7% |
Lennies Dynamic | 16/1 | 6.7% |
Ballydoyle Tina | 16/1 | 6.7% |
Ballyea Warrior | 16/1 | 6.7% |
Im Here | 16/1 | 6.7% |
Bar | 20/1 | 4.8% |
BIGD Favourites
BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby Favourites
Bouncing Monarch
Bouncing Monarch - 8/1
Heading the market for the 2026 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby is Bouncing Monarch , whose odds of 3/1 represent a 25% 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 seven wins from ten starts.
He set the tone in round one with an 11 and a half length demolition job in 29.10, joint fastest of the round, then went one better in round two, cruising four lengths clear of Ballydoyle Tina in a best of night 29.11 with a blistering 16.87 third bend split. He is drawn in trap three for heat four of round three, where he takes on 2025 Juvenile Derby winner Getup The Boy and fellow unbeaten performer Ballyea Warrior .
Wi Can James
Wi Can James – 8/1
Joint second in the market at 8/1 (11.1%) is Wi Can James , giving trainer Pat Guilfoyle a second leading contender in this year's field alongside kennelmate Waitingforastar .
Sent off odds on for his round one heat, Wi Can James was run down by a flying Sleight Of Hand , who landed a gamble to beat him by three and a half lengths, but he still qualified in fine style with a smart 29.34 in defeat.
He put that right in round two, bouncing back to win in 29.21 and complete a big night for the Guilfoyle yard, and heads to round three as one of the most improved performers left in the competition.
Solo And Go
Solo And Go – 8/1
Also at 8/1 (11.1%) is Solo And Go , unbeaten through two rounds for trainer Liam Dowling .
He was the fastest of round one's opening night in 29.27, edging out Lennies Dynamic by three quarters of a length with a searing 16.98 third bend split, one of only a handful inside 17 seconds all round.
The pair met again in round two and it was Solo And Go who came out on top once more, going clear from the back straight to score by a length and a half in 29.34. Two wins from two against the same rival marks him out as one to note for round three.
Bockos Diamond
Bockos Diamond – 10/1
Out at 10/1 (9.1%) is 2024 champion Bockos Diamond , bidding to add a second Irish Derby to his CV for trainer Graham Holland .
Bred by Joseph O'Connor and raced by the Remember Them Syndicate, he won the 2024 renewal unbeaten across six rounds, extending his record to fifteen consecutive victories in the process, and remains a serious player two years on.
He caught the eye in round one and set the standard on the second Saturday of round two, and now renews acquaintance with Holland kennelmates Bockos Gold and Ballydoyle Tina in heat three of round three, a fascinating three way battle from the same yard.
Waitingforastar
Waitingforastar – 12/1
Also involved is Waitingforastar , whose odds have shortened to 12/1 (7.7%) as trainer Pat Guilfoyle chases a second Irish Derby crown following Good News 's success back in 2017.
Guilfoyle 's runner arrived at the competition full of running, having landed a summer trial by two and a half lengths from Droopys Monk , and that promise was enough to see him sent off as the napped selection for heat 22 of round one, a job he did in style.
He backed it up with another win in round two, scoring in 29.36 to complete a Guilfoyle double alongside Wi Can James , and the fact he's now two from two says plenty about how seriously he should be taken in round three.
Sleight Of Hand
Sleight Of Hand – 14/1
Completing the shortlist at 14/1 (6.7%) is Sleight Of Hand , trained by Laurence Jones .
He was joint fastest of the entire first round, matching Bouncing Monarch 's 29.10 in heat 23, and did it the hard way, being backed from 11/4 into 11/8 to land the gamble and beat odds on favourite Wi Can James by three and a half lengths, clocking the fastest third bend split of the round along the way.
He was up against fellow heat winners Amidus Hulk and Ballyhooly Cliff in a tough looking heat 12 in round two but came through safely to book his place in round three, and looks another dog capable of running a big race at Shelbourne .
*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.
