BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby 2026 launches with thrilling opening weekend
The 2026 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby burst into life at Shelbourne Park this weekend, with 24 high-quality opening round heats showcasing the very best of Irish greyhound racing and setting the stage for an unforgettable six-week journey to Derby glory.
Featuring the sport's leading trainers, established champions, emerging stars and some of the most exciting young talent in training, the opening round provided drama, outstanding performances and a glimpse of what lies ahead before the prestigious final on Saturday, September 12th.
A total of 96 greyhounds progressed through the opening round, but as always, the Derby immediately underlined its reputation as the toughest test in greyhound racing, with several fancied contenders already seeing their dreams ended at the first hurdle.
The opening weekend also highlighted the remarkable strength of Ireland's leading kennels, with former Derby-winning trainers Graham Holland, Pat Buckley, Paul Hennessy, Patrick Guilfoyle, Liam Dowling and Michael O'Donovan all making significant early statements as the race for the coveted blue riband gathers momentum.
Diamond shines once again
One of the biggest moments of the weekend came on Friday night when 2024 Irish Greyhound Derby champion Bockos Diamond rolled back the years with a hugely popular victory in Heat 10.
The Golden based Graham Holland-trained superstar received a tremendous reception from the Shelbourne Park crowd as he displayed all his trademark early pace and determination to score in 29.40. It was a reminder that the former champion remains a major player in this year's renewal and one of the sport's most beloved competitors. His success formed part of a strong night for Holland, who also celebrated victories with Low Profile and Bombay Special.
Friday night's action delivered several eye-catching displays, none more so than Solo And Go (owned by Kerry syndicate who include Kerry Senior Footballers David & Paudie Clifford), who recorded the fastest time of the evening when stopping the clock in 29.27 for Liam Dowling. Stablemate Ballymac Gwennie also advertised her credentials in impressive fashion, completing a treble for the Dowling kennel with a commanding success in 29.31. Other notable winners included Oriental King, Ballyea Warrior, Ballymac Kamala and Silent Noelle, each securing their places in the second round with performances that caught the attention of Derby followers.
Saturday night proved equally compelling, with headline performances from ante-post favourite Bouncing Monarch (trained by Tipperary Town based trainer Michael O’Donovan and winner of the recent €80,000 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial in Limerick Greyhound Stadium) and the brilliantly impressive Sleight Of Hand, who both posted a stunning 29.10, the joint fastest times of the entire opening round. Bouncing Monarch enhanced his position among the market leaders with a devastating eleven-and-a-half-length victory, while Sleight Of Hand produced one of the most exciting displays of the weekend to firmly establish himself as a serious contender. There were also notable victories for Coloursaregreen, Priceless Romeo, Kapuka Coley, Ballymac Deniro, Shotgun Dez, Waitingforastar and shock winner Amidus Hulk, whose 20-1 success in the final heat provided one of the biggest upsets of the opening round.
O'Donovan, Hennessy and Buckley make their mark
Saturday night's action was particularly memorable for Tipperary trainer Michael O'Donovan, whose powerful team produced three winners through Bouncing Monarch, Skywalker Bruno and Hackney Dancer.
Former Derby-winning trainer Paul Hennessy (Kilkenny) enjoyed a double courtesy of Coloursaregreen and Priceless Romeo, while Pat Buckley (Cappawhite) struck with Ballyea Warrior and Singalong Cherry, once again underlining the strength and depth among the sport's elite handlers.
Meanwhile, Patrick Guilfoyle (Cloughjordan) was represented by the impressive Waitingforastar, who demonstrated tremendous determination to earn his place in the second round.
Commenting on the opening weekend, Director of Racing Derek Frehill praised the quality of competition and the atmosphere generated by the sport's flagship event, "The opening weekend of the 2026 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby delivered everything we hoped for and more. The quality throughout all 24 heats was exceptional, with established stars, former champions and exciting new contenders all producing performances of the highest calibre”. He added, "It was fantastic to see Bockos Diamond return to winning ways on the Derby stage, while performances from greyhounds such as Bouncing Monarch, Sleight Of Hand, Solo And Go and Ballymac Gwennie demonstrate the incredible depth of talent involved this year.”
The Irish Greyhound Derby continues to capture the imagination of racing fans who can now look forward to the second round, where the competition intensifies and every race becomes even more important on the road to September 12th. The action continues at Shelbourne Park on Friday and Saturday nights, when the remaining contenders return for two nights of second-round heats. Gates open from 6.00pm.
For more details check out www.ShelbourneParkGreyhoundStadium.ie