The 2024 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby took place during October and November 2024, with the final being held on 23 November at Shelbourne Park. The competition was sponsored by BoyleSports and the prize money purse was €300,000, of which €125,000 went to the winner.
The competition was moved from its traditional Summer slot sue to a major refurbishment of Shelboure Park.
The winner was a black dog called Bockos Diamond, trained by Graham Holland, bred by Joseph O'Connor and owned by the Remember Them Syndicate. Bockos Diamond lit up the competition breaking and equalling the track record in two rounds of the competition on his way to an unbeaten success. Six flawless runs saw him become the shortest priced winner of a final in the event's history and extend his race record to a 15th consecutive win in just his 16th race.
Details The first round was held on 18 & 19 October, second round on 25 & 26 October, third round on 2 November, quarter finals on 9 November and semi finals on 16 November.
In the antepost betting installed Bockos Diamond as the 6/1 favourite, following 9 consecutive wins. Callaway Knegare was 7/1, De Lahdedah (the 2024 English Greyhound Derby winner) was 10/1, Bombay Pat and British challenger March On Freddie were both 12/1.
Quarter finals
Heat 1 (9 Nov)PosName SP Time 1st Bombay Pat5/229.192nd Ballinabola Jim5/129.613rd March On Freddie4/129.894thSuperfast Gorden14/129.965th De Lahdedah6/4f30.136thCheque For Cash14/130.24
Heat 2 (9 Nov)PosName SP Time 1stA Lucky Julie 9/129.312ndCheap Sandwiches 4/9f29.343rd Singalong Dolly 10/129.404thMustang Fever 28/129.645th Ballymac Briar 20/129.716th Untold Dollar 7/229.82
Heat 3 (9 Nov)PosName SP Time 1stCarrick Aldo 11/10f29.152nd Boylesports Bob3/129.183rd Da Bold Falcon5/129.504th Extra Gain25/129.605thIs She There40/129.676th Undulation10/329.74
Heat 4 (9 Nov)PosName SP Time 1stBockos Diamond3/10f29.192nd Callaway Knegare7/229.503rd Seven Beach12/129.684th Short Grip33/129.705th Hawkfield Blue6/5f29.716th Scooby Pacemaker40/129.74
Semi finals
First semi final (16 Nov)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trainer1stBockos Diamond 8/13f28.94TRHolland2ndCallaway Knegare 11/229.32McKenna3rdA Lucky Julie 18/129.33Melia4thBombay Pat 7/129.34Holland5thCarrick Aldo 11/229.35Murray6thSeven Beach12/129.70O'Donnell
Second semi final (16 Nov)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trainer1stCheap Sandwiches 3/1f29.13Holland2nd Singalong Dolly5/129.41Buckley3rdBoylesports Bob 7/229.51Hennessy4th Da Bold Falcon9/229.52McGee5thMarch on Freddie 11/229.94Mullins6th Ballinabola Jim7/200.00Murphy
Final At Shelbourne Park (over 550 yards): PositionGreyhoundBreedingTrapSectionalSPTime (sec)CommentTrainer1stBockos DiamondDorotas Wildcat – Seaglas Shadow63.403/10f29.25Led1, DrwClrGraham Holland2ndCheap SandwichesBurgess Bucks – Hearthill Josie33.407/129.32A2nd, ChlRnInGraham Holland3rdCallaway KnegareDroopys Sydney – Droopys Sweet13.419/129.39ChlRnUp, A3rdOwen McKenna4thSingalong DollyDroopys Sydney – Mydras Dawn23.4725/129.44EvAw, RnOnPat Buckley5thBoylesports BobGood News – Roanna Bess53.5422/129.45Crd1, NvShwPaul Hennessy6thA Lucky JulieBallymac Bolger – Julies Paradise43.5420/129.66SAw, W4James Melia
Distances 1, 1, ¾, short head, 3 (0.07 sec = one length)
Competition report The competition seemed to be lacking the number of star names usually associated with the event due in part to the revised dates and also the fact that some of the expected challengers were either injured or retired. They included the defending champion The Other Kobe, Easter Cup and St Leger champion Clonbrien Treaty, Swords Rex, Champion Stakes winner Daleroad Duke and Dundalk International winner Droopys Mandolin.
Antepost favourite Bockos Diamond recorded 29.23 on the opening first round night, with Bombay Pat next best with 29.34. Clona Duke won his heat but last years runner-up Bockos Crystal failed to progress. Boylesports Bob and March On Freddie both impressed on the second night with a 29.25 and 29.19 runs respectively and Kirby Memorial winner Knockeen Dazzler also won his heat but Laurels champion Crafty Shivoo was eliminated.
March On Freddie and Oaks champion A Lucky Julie both scored second round wins but Clona Duke and Produce champion Unanimouspanther were eliminated. However, Bockos Diamond won in 29.03, the fastest time of the event so far. De Lahdedah won the first heat on night 2, a race that saw the end of Knockeen Dazzler's challenge. Bombay Pat won again and Ballinabola Jim set a time of 29.07 beating Callaway Knegare by 9½ lengths.
The third round saw Bockos Diamond broke the track record and further his claims for the title. The black dog trained by Graham Holland set a time of 28.94, breaking Pestana's four year record. Undulation won in 29.16 and Cheap Sandwiches in 29.18.
Bombay Pat made if four from four by winning a strong first quarter-final, Ballinabola Jim and March On Freddie both qualified by English Derby champion De Lahdedah went out. A Lucky Julie pipped Cheap Sandwiches in heat 2 before Carrick Aldo claimed the third heat. The last race featured Bockos Diamond, who won easily from Callaway Knegare.
In the first semi-final Bockos Diamond equalled his own track record with another faultless display from Callaway Knegare and A Lucky Julie. The three eliminated were Bombay Pat, Carrick Also and Seven Beach. The second heat went to Cheap Sandwiches from Singalong Dolly and Boylesports Bob, with Da Bold Falcon, March On Freddie and Ballinabola Jim missing out on a Derby final place.
See also 2024 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
References