DIAMOND AND SANDWICHES TOP DERBY BETTING
Ian Fortune
It’s been a quiet week in Irish greyhound racing with many meetings lost to the cold snap.
Of course, this is often the case in January but it encourages those with time on their hands to look forward.
September 12th may be over nine months away but already there is plenty of chat about the 2026 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby. In the coming weeks, a number of potential Derby champions will begin their careers at Tralee and Clonmel but there is a number of hugely talented, already established performers with an eye on the Derby already.
A look at the BOYLE Sports Derby betting will confirm that this year’s blue riband could be amongst the best ever. There is a familiar name at the top of the betting. Bockos Diamond had just two races in Ireland in 2025, losing his unbeaten record at Shelbourne Park in the opening round of the Derby before coming home in front in the second round.
Sadly, he picked up an injury ahead of his third-round assignment, meaning he was denied the chance to defend his Derby crown. Of course, he also reached the final of the English Greyhound Derby at Towcester, showing his brilliance on a couple of occasions through the classic.
BOYLE Sports and their trading team clearly feel he will be back to his best in the coming year as he is 14-1 favourite to come home in front in mid-September. It will be a big ask as he turns four years of age just four days after the Derby decider.
The same can be said for his kennel companion and reigning Derby champion Cheap Sandwiches. He will actually turn four on September 1st, although the most recent evidence available suggests he is as good as ever. He is 16-1 for retain his title.
Magical Luka and Ballymac Setanta represent the next generation and are both available at 20-1. Magical Luka made a stunning start to his career and has suffered just one career defeat in the final of the Romford Puppy Cup. He is currently on the easy list but is clearly a very special prospect.
The same can be said for Ballymac Setanta. The brilliant son of Ballymac Kingdom was beaten favourite in the Laurels decider but equalled the track record in the prelims, while his final race of the year was arguably his best performance.
Running Cheap Sandwiches to the pin of his collar in the WRF Championship 550 despite stumbling at the third turn, he sent out a clear warning that he will be a force over the 550yd trip in the coming year. That bodes well for his Derby chances.
There’s a whole host of talented trackers available at 25-1. These include 2025 Derby finalist Glengar Silent and his kennel companion Glengar Kane, the hugely talented Ballymac Stud, Droopys Graph, The Other Aari and flying females Ballydoyle Tina and Droopys Kathleen.
It has to be said, there will be a great number of changes to the betting in the very near future when one or two youngsters are added to the list and those making the prices do a full review of those quoted. Indeed, there are a number of greyhounds in the list that are retired or gone to the UK. Watch this space.
BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby
BOYLE Sports bet:
14 Bockos Diamond
16 Cheap Sandwiches
20 Ballymac Setanta
20 Magical Luka
25 Droopys Graph
25 Ballymac Stud
25 Glengar Silent
25 Glengar Kane
25 Magical Major
25 The Other Aari
25 Ballydoyle Tina
25 Droopys Kathleen
33 Magical On Fire
33 Ballymac Gwennie
33 Uncle Keith
33 Ballymac Iroko
33 Newinn Hoffa
40 Callaway Five
40 Solo And Go
40 Bombay Pat
40 Getup The Boy
50 Ballinabola Joe
50 Droopys Faithful
50 Carrick Scholsey
50 Ballymac Kamala
66 Ballymac Chantry
66 Slippery Brian
66 Romeo Alliance
66 Proper Heiress
66 Singalong Curly
66 Hackney Corner
66 Miami Hans
66 Swords Style
66 Lennies Desire
66 Faypoint Ranger
100 Magical Sapphire
100 Magical Keith
100 Lemon Joey
100 Droopys Plunge
100 Zenith Mikmacker
100 Toolmaker Josepe
100 Magical Mag
100 Sallagh Larry
100 Rural Pest
100 Sunshine Sioux
100 Droopys Patriot
100 Headford Dane
100 Unanimous Leon
100 Ballymac Tibet
100 Betgoodwin Ben
100 Cheque For Cash
100 Happy Jet
100 Droopys Deploy
100 The Other Wild
200 Lamrock Ace
500 De Bono Lad