A GOLDEN DISPLAY AS BOCKOS HANDS HOLLAND A RECORD SIXTH DERBY TITLE
Ian Fortune
Bockos Gold is the Derby champion. And that should come as no shock to anyone given the fact that he is trained by Graham Holland, who was landing his sixth BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby and his third in a row.
It was a remarkable performance of pace, power and tracking from Bockos Gold as he followed in the footsteps of Rural Hawaii, Lenson Bocko, Newinn Taylor, Bockos Diamond and Cheap Sandwiches.
This was another famous night at Shelbourne Park. A huge crowd poured through the stiles ahead of the opening race and the resulting atmosphere through the evening was pretty special. The supporting card provided many incredible displays but it was fitting that Bockos Gold emerged the undoubted star of proceedings as he secured his place amongst the immortals.
Ahead of the Derby final, Bouncing Monarch was a little uneasy in the betting, although his price solidified in the final minutes before going to traps the 8-11 favourite. Sleight Of Hand was next in at 5-1 with Bockos Gold and Wi Can James at 8-1. It was then 12-1 Im Here with Hackney Dancer the outsider of the field at 16-1.
The noise began to build as they loading process took place and when the hare was sent in motion, the Derby roar kicked in. And as the lids rose, the noise was deafening. There was a pretty level start with Bouncing Monarch, Wi Can James and Bockos Gold coming away well with Sleight Of Hand and Im Here next.
Hackney Dancer fluffed his lines from four, missing the kick before quickly getting squeezed for room between Wi Can James and Bockos Gold. Bouncing Monarch and Bockos Gold were side by side into the turn, although the latter dabbed on the brakes to allow Bouncing Monarch assert.
Sleight Of Hand was on the fence and made full use of his pitch to move second with Bockos Gold a close third. Wi Can James was now between rivals and struggling for room, while Im Here was just on the heels of the leaders on the outside.
To those watching in the packed stands, it seemed certain that Bouncing Monarch was going to drive the turn and put himself in the pole position to land the €125,000 prize but his rivals had other ideas.
The presence of Sleight Of Hand on the inside of the track was to change the direction of the 2026 BOLYE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby.
Unlike seven days earlier, Bouncing Monarch didn’t drive across the corner, instead maintaining a true trap two line. This left a little room up the inside and Sleight Of Hand was perfectly within his right to attempt to get through.
As the pair entered the back straight, Bounding Monarch was over three parts of a length in front but it wasn’t enough. Sleight Of Hand had a gap and went for it. The pair bumped. It was nothing serious, just the sort of bump you see countless times but this changed the whole complexion of the contest.
Bouncing Monarch lost vital momentum. Sleight Of Hand too. Bockos Gold saw his chance.
Just a length behind Sleight Of Hand at this point, the heavyweight suddenly found himself challenging and going to the front. It was at the halfway point that he took over and his momentum carried him into a near length advantage to the third turn.
Great credit goes to Sleight Of Hand, who drove into the third turn to challenge on the inside but the door was firmly shut on him by the leader. Bockos Gold increased his advantage to over two lengths and the Derby was over.
Somehow, Graham Holland was about to win another Derby. Bockos Gold, who had shown a new-found strength through the classic, was on his own turning for home and he was greeted by a huge ovation up the run in as he earned his place in history.
The brilliant tracker saw off Sleight Of Hand by four lengths in 29.05, the fastest Derby winner of all time. The runner-up ran with huge credit, while Bouncing Monarch did well to finish two lengths away in third despite finding bother off the second bend. Wi Can James ran on well to finish just a short head away in fourth with Im Here and Hackney Dancer fifth and sixth.
It was a memorable Derby final for the right reasons. The four lucky members of the Jolly Good Company Syndicate, which includes Graham Box, Bev Lochead and father and son Thomas and Ciaran McNamara, joined the Holland family and friends on the presentation area, while winning breeder Shari-Anne O’Donnell was also elated as she joined in.
Jenna Boyle, President of BOYLE Sports, presents the trophy to Beverly Lochead after Bockos Gold won the final of the 2026 BOYLE Sports Derby, also included is Nicky Holland wife of trainer Graham Holland. Pic: Imelda Grauer
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Michael Fortune Memorial Plate
SETANTA POWERS TO PLATE GLORY
Ballymac Setanta was faultless in the final of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate, charging to the front in the early yards before running out a convincing winner for Liam Dowling.
Both he and his kennel companion Ballymac Deniro dominated the market and the duo quickly came to the fore.
Importantly, Ballymac Setanta got first run. The brilliant son of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Art held a two length lead at the turn but he extended his advantage into the back straight to put the result beyond doubt.
Ballymac Deniro moved second into the bend and chased hard down the back straight but was three lengths adrift at halfway. He closed the gap slightly around the bottom two bends but Ballymac Setanta saved ground on the fence and kicked again as they turned for home. Powering up the straight, Ballymac Setanta emerged a comfortable three and a half length scorer over Ballymac Deniro in 29.15. Ballyhooly Cliff was another length away in third.
THE BOY REALLY IMPRESSED
The Open 550 ninth race was billed as the swansong for Bockos Diamond with the potential for a sentimental goodbye and result but Getup the Boy clearly hadn’t read the script.
Not only did he come home in front but he did so in the manner of a classic winning greyhound in the form of his career.
This was nothing short of spectacular from the son of Ballymac Cashout ansdPeckie Flyer. The Mark Robinson trained star flew from the inside trap and, despite edging to the middle of the track, comfortably held off Bockos Diamond to dictate the pace into the turn and the back straight.
Bockos Diamond did all he could to close but it was a lost cause. Getup The Boy is remarkably quick and strong and he powered clear to emerge a brilliant winner. Daniel Ornstein’s charge hit the line five lengths clear of Lennies Dynamic, with Bockos Diamond tiring to finish a length and a half further back in third.
A WINNING PROFILE
Low Profile was simply brilliant in the consolation final of the BOYLE Sports Derby.
After fluffing his lines at traps in the Derby semi-finals, he made no such mistakes on this occasion, shooting from trap two to dictate from start to finish.
It was a simply brilliant run from the son of Ballymac Bolger and Crafty Jayko. Glengar Phantom took up the pursuit, but it was futile. Low Profile really meant business and the Graham Holland trained star powered his way to a comfortable and most impressive four and a half length victory in a very fast 29.11. Glengar Phantom was second with Priceless Romeo staying on well to finish just a half length away in third.
RAMPANT REX GOES QUICK
Graham Holland could do no wrong on the night.
Aside from claiming a sixth Derby title, he also won the Consolation Derby with Low Profile before sending out Riverside Rex to give the 575yd track record a fright in the penultimate contest on the card.
This was yet another procession type run as the son of Swords Rex and Glenegat Mildred flew from the inside box and never saw another rival. Already clear by the time they hit the back straight, his lucky owners Dave Simpson and Matthew Curtis could watch on with glee as their star powered to the line to see off Droopys Mezza and hot favourite Ballymac Gwennie by seven lengths and a half length in a sizzling 30.62.
HANS FLASHES OUT TO DOMINATE
By the time Miami Hans took race 4, the layers were starting to feel the pinch.
After a couple of well-backed winners, Miami Hans made it a hat trick with a superb run off the front for Garry Dempsey and owners Noel McSweeney and Paschal Taggart.
Flashing from the inside box, the son of Ballymac Kingdom and Break the Best received a fine ovation from the stands as he proceeded to make all despite a big run from Lennies Jamesmac in second. Miami Hans is very strong so it was no surprise to see him kick off the final turn to win by three lengths in a brilliant 28.01. Lennies Jamesmac was second with Gallant Captain running on for third, some two and a half lengths further back.
MIST SPRINTS TO CAREER BEST VICTORY
The final of the BOYLE Sports Best Odds Guaranteed Open Sprint saw Vernon Mist cause something of a shock as he shot from traps to contain the always challenging The Other Aari.
Trained by Gerry Holian for PJ Quinn, Vernon Mist was electric at traps and quicklygot first run.
Many of the principles missed the start and found themselves playing catch-up. Instead, it was up to The Other Aari to make this a great contest. He found himself on the outside of the leader early and switched to the fence off the second before making his move.
It was too late, however. Vernon Mist was really sticky out front and the son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Sanjose held on by a neck in a rapid 18.39. Bomber Nina was best of the remainder, three lengths away in third.
NOELLE IN CHARGE ON BITCH 525
Silent Noelle was superb in the Open Bitch 525, showing fine early speed and determination to assert on the corner.
The daughter of Newinn Taylor and Terezas Mendoza quickly drove into a commanding advantage once getting loose and was never going to be picked up despite a massive run in second from Glengar Robin.
Silent Noelle, owned by the Nolan, Mullins, Ahern Syndicate, raced to a commanding two length victory over her rival in 28.21.
MAGIC MEL DOMINATES
It was also a case of away and gone for The Other Mel in the tenth race on the card.
Available at big odds, the daughter of Grangeview ten and Scooby Duchess was absolutely electric at boxes, posting a 2.00 sectional to make every inch of the running.
Those in behind never had a chance, although her task was made somewhat easier when Grouchos Chief and Faypoint Ranger bumped at the turn. Meanwhile, the Jennifer O’Donnell trained The Other Mel was gone. Maintaining a strong gallop to the line, the Born Wild Syndicate owned bitch emerged a facile winner by three and a half lengths in 28.17 with Sober Barry coming through for second.
ELLO ELLO JUSTIFIES SUPPORT IN 750
Ello Ello was a well-backed winner of the second race over the 750yd trip, doing really well to reel in Mona Lee Monbeg before containing the late challenge of both Lennies Desire and Illcalluback. Second from the early yards, Ello Ello was forced to check his stride on the second turn but remained a serious challenger to the fast-starting Mona Lee Monbeg.
Closing to the fifth turn, Ello Ello made great use of an inside seam at this point to ease on but Lennies Desire and Illcalluback were now closing fast. In a tremendous finish, Ello Ello had to call on extra reserves of stamina.
Trained by Brendan Matthews for the Three B’s Syndicate, the son of Airmount Nando and Million Dreams held on to see off Lennies Desire by a half length in 41.97 with Illcalluback running a big race in third, another half length adrift.
WINSOME WINS FINALE
The all-important finale saw Droopys Winsome justify favouritism with a fine front-running display over the 600yd trip.
The Murt Leahy trained son of Pestana and Droopys Onestop has really taken to the slightly longer trip with the run to the turn over 575yds and 600yds really suiting the Produce Stakes runner-up.
He again asserted into the bend on this occasion and never looked in danger thereafter. Unassuming turned second and repelled the challenge of both Town Lucky and Uncle Keith but she couldn’t get close enough to threaten the leader.
John Coleman’s Droopys Winsome is a real powerhouse and he stayed on strongly to the line to emerge a two and a half length scorer in a quick 32.22.
KING RULES IN OPENER
Toolmaker King justified favouritism to open proceedings with a bang.
The packed stands certainly seemed to approve as Toolmaker King shot from this inside box and made every inch for Robert gleeson and Willie Hyslop.
The son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Curio always seemed to be containing the persistent challenge of Callaway Katie and he eased on to win by four lengths in 28.41. Callaway Katie was collared on the line by the strong running Kilcolgan Eddie, with a head separating the pair.