The 2025 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September 2025, with the final being held on 27 September 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 returned to its traditional late Summer slot following major refurbishment of Shelboure Park in 2024.
Trainer Graham Holland claimed a record fifth Irish Derby after Cheap Sandwiches won the event at odds of 4/5.
Details and ante post betting The first round was held on 22 and 23 August, second round on 29 and 30 August, third round on 6 September, quarter finals on 13 September and semi finals on 20 September.
Ante Post betting saw defending champion Bockos Diamond installed as 9/2 favourite, followed by kennelmate and dual English/Irish Derby finalist at 12/1. Other leading contenders were Callaway Knegare at 12/1, Ballinabola Joe and Droopys Kathleen at 16/1 and 2004 English Derby champion De Lahdedah and Faypoint Ranger at 20/1.
Quarter finals
Heat 1 (13 Sep)PosName SP Time 1st Cheap Sandwiches4/7f29.272nd Droopys Deploy14/129.763rd Callaway Five25/129.794thUnanimous Leo9/229.805thPricless Romeo11/130.056thLennies Dream9/230.89
Heat 2 (13 Sep)PosName SP Time 1stMagical Mag 6/4f29.692ndHappy Jet 11/129.933rd Ballymac Stud 9/430.074thBlastoff Heffo12/130.095th Shanahee Boomer 5/230.126th Tarsna Maasai N/R
Heat 3 (13 Sep)PosName SP Time 1stProper Heiress 4/7f29.782nd Glengar Silent 7/129.853rd Singalong Curly 5/130.024th Magical Sapphire12/130.035thCheque For Cash13/230.216th Phoenix Memphis20/130.63
Heat 4 (13 Sep)PosName SP Time 1stBallyhooly Bruno8/129.692nd Oreo Ollie8/129.833rd Barefoot on Song6/129.974th Coosane Pickles11/230.185thRural Pest5/230.216th De Lahdedah13/8f30.46
Semi finals
First semi final (29 Sep)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trainer1stCheap Sandwiches 1/2f 29.14 Graham Holland2nd Oreo Ollie 22/1 30.01 Jack Kennelly3rdBarefoot on Song 33/1 30.02 Paul Hennessy 4th Proper Heiress 3/1 30.27 Mark Wallis5thSingalong Curly 14/1 30.37 Pat Buckley6th Ballymac Stud 7/130.38 Liam Dowling
Second semi final (20 Sep)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trainer1st Glengar Silent 15/8 29.26 Pat Buckley2ndDroopys Deploy 6/1 29.40 Robert G.Gleeson3rdMagical Mag 5/4f 29.47 Patrick Guilfoyle4th Ballyhooly Bruno 7/1 29.61 Tom O'Neill5thCallaway Five 16/1 29.89 Owen McKenna6th Happy Jet 14/1 30.13 Pat Buckley
Final At Shelbourne Park (over 550 yards): PositionGreyhoundBreedingTrapSectionalSPTime (sec)CommentTrainer1st Cheap Sandwiches Burgess Bucks – Hearthill Josie 5 3.47 4/5f29.37 Led2, Drew Clear Graham Holland2ndBarefoot on Song Grangeview Ten – Jaytee Osprey 33.40 40/1 29.58 EP, Led1-2Paul Hennessy3rdGlengar Silent Droopys Sydney – Singalong Sally 4 3.54 11/229.86 LckEP, Stayed On Pat Buckley4thProper Heiress Droopys Sydney – Powerful Mush 13.51 7/230.00 EvAw, Clear Run Mark Wallis5th Droopys Deploy Malachi – Droopys Charm 63.57 12/130.21 SAw, BBlk1 Robert G.Gleeson6thMagical Mag Ballymac Cashout – Mystical Luna 2 3.4510/100.00 KO1 Patrick Guilfoyle
Distances 3, 4, 2, 3, Dis (0.07 sec = one length)
Competition report The second round started without Callaway Knegare and Faypoint Ranger after both were knocked out at the first stage. Bombay Pat posted 29.17 to record the fastest time in the second round, as he had done in the first round. Bockos Diamond made amends for a first round defeat by claiming his heat in 29.40 and Cheap Sandwiches won in 29.49. However, the third round started deflated with the withdrawal from the competition of Bockos Diamond and this was followed by the surprise eliminations of Ballinabola Joe and Bombay Pat. The race of the night went to Proper Heiress who defeated Cheap Sandwiches by a length.
In the quarter-finals, Cheap Sandwiches and Proper Heiress consolidated their positions as the new favourites with 29.27 and 29.78 successes respectively, the latter continuing his unbeaten run. The other two heats went to Magical Mag and Ballyhooly Bruno.
The semi-final round was dominated by the disqualification of Oreo Ollie who interfered with Barefoot On Song for second place. The heat was easily won by Cheap Sandwiches who was now considered a near certainty for the title. Proper Heiress had a stroke of luck by taking the last berth for the final. The second heat was won by Glengar Silent.
See also 2025 in UK and Ireland greyhound racing
References