2026 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby Ante-Post picks

Ante-Post selections

The opening round of the 2026 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby starts on Friday night at Shelbourne Park, with six weeks of action concluding on September 12. We have picked out five ranging from the favourites to rank outsiders with the prices showing best odds at the time of writing. 

Ballymac Setanta @ 14/1

The Kirby finalist made it no further than the first round at Towcester when one of the favourites there, undone by not having time between the competitions for a look around. He has shown in runs at Limerick and Cork that he is an absolute flying machine when he gets things right, and a deep run should be forthcoming. 

Ballymac Kamala @ 28/1

The 4/1 joint favourite with the sponsors in the top bitch market, she should have  strong claims for outright glory. She is the quickest of the year to this point over 525y at this track (in fact, she has three of the top four times) as well as being top over the Derby track and trip until last weekend when Bockos Gold usurped her. A serious talent who loves this track, she has a big run in her.

Droopys Porter @ 66/1

Has a trappy enough first round heat but he has only made eight starts, his most recent when scoring over the Derby track and trip in 29.35. That suggests that he has plenty of ability, making the final of the Denis Linehan unraced to kick off his career, the winner of that making it into the Puppy Derby final at this track last month. Looks the type to progress as the competition goes along.

Roaming Shelby @ 80/1

Even more lightly-raced than Droopys Porter, Roaming Shelby has just five starts so far in his career. Perhaps he is a little on the light side when it comes to the experience required for a competition such as this, but he produced a clean best run of his career last time out when trying the Derby trip for the first time. If he can find that level consistently, he might outperform his odds.

Bills Harbour @ 200/1

Last seen in the final of the Tipperary Cup, he shaped nicely in a trial at the track at the end of July, clocking 28.17 over 525y. His Thurles run in June is one spot outside the quickest of the year at that track which was set by Produce Stakes finalist Oriental Prince. This is being thrown in the deep end but he is a promising type who should have better efforts still to come.