ANOTHER MEMORABLE NIGHT AS DERBY FIELD HALVED TO TWELVE

Ian Fortune

The 2026 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby provided yet another memorable night at Shelbourne Park on Saturday with each of the four quarter finals won in superb fashion.

The racing really was right out of the top drawer but once again Bouncing Monarch played a starring role as he posted a sensational fastest-of-the-Derby 29.08.

MAGICAL MONARCH

Bouncing Monarch was simply majestic in Heat 2.

From the opening stride it was all too obvious that he was the only greyhound with a chance of winning. The brilliant son of Deerjet Sydney and Lemon Elsa rocketed from trap one, taking a step to his right but comfortably leading a field packed with early speed.

This was canine perfection. Bouncing Monarch flew into the turn putting the result beyond any doubt. The race for the minor placings was very different with the order changing a few times in behind but Bouncing Monarch was in a league of his own.

Owner Dave Fradgley and trainer Michael O’Donovan, as well as many others, would have been reminded of his stunning trap to line victory in the Kirby Memorial decider. Ruthless in his efficieny, he hit the third turn in 16.87 and maintained a powerful gallop to the line to stop the clock in a fastest of the Derby 29.08.

Behind the leader, Harvard Square displayed huge early speed to lead Solo And Go into the bend. The pair raced second and third into the back straight where Solo And Go was forced to check his stride.

Priceless Romeo took his invitation with glee. Poised on the outside of the track, he quickly moved third and set his sights on Harvard Square. He moved second at the third turn and powered home to finish just four and a half lengths behind Bouncing Monarch.

Meanwhile, Harvard Square was under pressure from Solo And Go around the last two bends, leaving Bockos Diamond to collar the pair. He too finished well to take third, some three lengths behind the runner-up. 

AVENGER SHOWS HIS CLASS

Croydon Avenger may have been a big price to win the opening heat for Michael Clark and Pat Barrett but anyone paying attention would have known that an inside draw could only aid his claims.

And the son of Sober Glory and Assarula Runner certainly made the most of his draw.

After a level start, there were a number of dogs challenging in the early yards with Hackney Plan holding a narrow advantage, although Croydon Avenger made his move into the bend, showing fine pace up the inside to stake his claims on the corner.

Running a superb bend, the talented tracker moved into a decisive lead. Hackney Plan and Wi Can James were prominent in second and third but Coloursaregreen saw his chance on the inside of the track. As he made his move, both Hackney Plan and Wi Can Dream were left with less racing room and the pair came together.

Wi Can James recovered to remain third but it was now a straight shootout between Croydon Avenger and Coloursaregreen. The former was in charge up front but Coloursaregreen closed into the third turn and pressed all the way home but Croydon Avenger is very strong and he saw out every inch to emerge a deserving winner by a length in 29.31. Wi Can James chased the pair home in third, some three lengths further adrift.

AN IMPRESSIVE PROFILE

Low Profile read the brief in the final heat; get first run on Firstpastthepost and put yourself in the firing line from the start.

And that is exactly what the talented son of Ballymac Bolger and Crafty Jayko did for owners, the RT&C Syndicate and trainer Graham Holland.

Flashing from two, he didn’t just clear the inside runner he also held off each of the four dogs on his outer. Once doing so, the powerful tracker was always going to take some stopping. Glengar Phantom moved second as they hit the back straight, passing Firstpastthepost but Waitingforastar was soon on the scene, showing his incredible pace to emerge as the main threat to the leader.

Low Profile continued to race with real purpose out front, but Waitingforastar moved second before the final turn and continued to close on the pace-setter. However, Low Profile’s advantage was too great.

Despite the best efforts of Waitingforastar, Low Profile held on for a relatively comfortable half length verdict in a very quick 29.21.

The battle for third went down to the wire but Glengar Phantom was in no humour to surrender his advantage. Digging deep some three lengths behind the runner-up, he held off the late charge of Barntick Bucko by a half-length.

SLEIGHT SHOWS HIS HAND

The tightest battle of the Derby action came in Heat 3 with Sleight Of Hand and Hackney Dancer going toe to toe up the home straight.

This was a contest of moments, the most important of which came at the third turn with Sleight Of Hand showing real bravery and determination to force his way to the front.

Faypoint Harvey was fastest into stride from four but Hackney Dancer displayed fine early speed to take over before the corner. Sleight Of Hand was a close second with Getup The Boy, Faypoint Harvey and Im Here in a line in third.

With the front five in such close proximity, something had to give. Getup The Boy found himself the meat in the sandwich and he took a bump, as did Faypoint Harvey. Im Here was forced wide but he emerged a close third, alongside Blastoff Heffo, who had found a gap at the bend.

Meanwhile, Hackney Dancer ran a good bend to enter the back straight in front, a length ahead of Sleight Of Hand. The race really began to develop own the far side. Im Here carried real momentum and quickly began to close on the leaders, while Blastoff Heffo and Getup The Boy were also pitching just behind.

By the time they hit the third turn, Hackney Dancer was under severe pressure with Sleight Of Hand and Im Here on his shoulder and challenging. Blastoff Heffo was looking for a gap right on their heels with Getup The Boy also poised within a length and a half of the leaders.

As things got tight, Hackney Dancer was forced to check his stride a little. Im Here and Sleight Of Hand were side by side between the last two bends. Getup The Boy was third and looking for room with Hackney Dancer demoted to fourth.

However, it was a short-lived demotion. As Im Here started to drift wide into the straight, he carried Getup The Boy with him. Suddenly, Hackney Dancer had room to race and he used his inside line to great effect.

Moving second on the final bend, he set his sights on the newly promoted leader Sleight Of Hand. Laurence Jones’ Sleight Of Hand was not going to surrender his advantage without a battle and that’s exactly what we got.

Hackney Dancer advanced but just couldn’t get to the leader in time. Sleight of Hand, a son of Ballymac Cashout and Kilmore Dancer, kept moving with purpose to hold the rallying Hackney Dancer by a neck in 29.53. Three lengths further back, the battle for third went to Im Here as he held off Blastoff Heffo by a half length.     

Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate

SHELBY PURRS IN OPENING HEAT

Roaming Shelby was simply brilliant in the opening heat of the Michael Forrtune Memorial Derby Plate.

Despite a tricky draw in five, Paul Ellis and Seamus Hagan’s rapidly improving son of Tommy Shelby and Roaming Shari never saw another rival.

Exploding from boxes, the Graham Holland trained star was never under any pressure despite the best efforts of the always second Aulton Cash. Ballyhooly Cliff ran on well to challenge for second but Aulton cash held on, albeit some four and a half lengths behind a hugely impressive Roaming Shelby who stopped the clock in a quick 29.29.

SUBSTANCE AS WELL AS STYLE

Swords Style was a hot favourite for the second heat and comfortably completed a fine double for Ghraham Holland as he assumed control in the early yards to make all.

Ryee pressed into the turn in second, but Swords Style increased his advantage into the back straight and was in complete command by halfway.

The battle for second and third was far more competitive but Ballyhooly Bruno displatyed some of his trademark speed and strength to go move past his rivals into second at the third turn. He stayed on well, as did Mydras Opinion in third, but Swords Style was always in charge.

Maintaining a strong gallop to the finish, Barbara Lowndes’ son of Grangeview Ten and Emers Sally hit the line three and a half lengths to the good in 29.41.

SETANTA FASTEST AS DOWLING DOUBLES UP

After Graham Holland recorded a double, Liam Dowling also had brace in Heats 3 and 4 with Ballymac Setanta and Ballymac Deniro emerging on top.

Ballymac Setanta was a very short price for the opening heat and won as his price suggested he should. Breaking smartly from three, the son of   Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Art was simply too good for those in behind.

Despite edging inwards, Ballymac Setanta comfortably cleared his rivals and built a sizeable lead to halfway. Microchip was second early with Oriental King third but the latter had too much ammunition for his rival.

Oriental King moved second into the third turn before chasing Ballymac Setanta home. The hot favourite eventually emerged a facile six length winner in 29.30. Oriental King was second with Coolemount Fame running on another four lengths back in third. 

DENIRO A COMFORTABLE WINNER

Ballymac Deniro didn’t go as fast but still managed to win the final heat in good style to complete the Dowling double.

Dear Sir broke fastest to lead early but Ballymac Deniro was soon in chase from the outside draw.

Droichead Nua closed into the second to turn challenge but Ballymac Deniro moved past Dear Sir to go to the front. Droichead Nua moved second and chased as hard as he could but Ballymac Deniro was in command. The son of Ballymac Finn and Ballymac Arminta eased on to eventually win by four lengths in 29.45. Grouchos Frank finished well in behind to grab third, a half length to the good over Droichead Nua.

Undercard

WINSOME DOES EXACTLY THAT

There was a very tight finish to the opening race with Droopys Winsome getting up in the final strides to nail long-time pace-setter Vivaro Warrior.

The latter, drawn in the stripes, was given a dream run early as Droopys Winsome dived to his left from four, holding up all of those on his inner.

It meant that Vivaro Warrior slipped around in front, entering the back straight with three lengths plus in hand. But Droopys Winsome is very strong and once turning second, he was always going to close on the leader.

By the time they were turning for home, John Coleman’s Droopys Winsome was right on the heels of the leader and closing fast. The Murt Leahy trained son of Pestana and Droopys Onestop got up to win by a half-length from Vivaro Warrior in 31.07.

RANGER RAMPANT IN FINALE TO HAND GRAHAM A FOURTH WINNER

It was apt for racing to end with another brilliant display as 2025 Kirby Memorial champion Faypoint Ranger produced a massive display of front running to claim a fourteenth career success for Patricia Flanagan.

In doing so, the hugely talented son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Carefree Turbo gave Graham Holland a fourth winner on the card. Exploding from five, the May ’23 whelp made every inch to score by two lengths in 28.26. There was also a big run in second from Text Amiright, who displayed huge pace down the back straight.