Irish Greyhound Derby Tips from the Editorial Team

The Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby starts on Friday, August 22 with 12 first round heats and concludes on Saturday with another 12. Although the event was undersubscribed, there are some exciting contests in prospect form the very start.

Our editorial team have taken a look over the field to find their best Shelbourne selections ante-post for the competition. Prices quoted are from the sponsors Boylesports but also what the best price out there in the market is.

Joe Conneely

Ballyhooly Bruno 66/1 with Boylesports (80/1 best price)

An ultra consistent performer who is rarely out the first three and that is a big plus heading into a six round competition where the first three qualify bar round one where its first four. He knows how to win competitions as he proved by winning the Shelbourne Open 600 final before finishing sixth in the Boylesports Champion Stakes 550 final in July. A dog who can keep qualifying that relishes the track and trip.

Toolmaker Josepe 100/1 with Boylesports

Toolmaker Josepe is another extremely strong runner who can pick up the pieces in races to keep sneaking through. He lacks a yard of pace and hasn’t put his best paw forward at Shelbourne in the past, however, he has some impressive displays over this trip at Limerick but also has winning form over six bends so he looks like another dog to keep qualifying as long as he gets the runs required.

Matt Newman

Magical Major - 16/1 with Boylesports (25/1 best price)

I backed his litter brother Magical Luka for this competition a couple of months back but now that he has been sent over to Kevin Hutton for the Romford Puppy Cup, litter hopes rest on Major. He has a couple of flashy times already in the bag but is still completely unexposed. Looks the type to progress for a while yet and has been one of the big talking dogs for the Irish Greyhound Derby.

Faypoint Ranger - 25/1 with Boylesports (40/1 best price)

The Kirby winner has been kept to limited action since his Limerick success back in April going unbeaten through that competition for Graham Holland. Runner-up Sole Mio franked the form in style by making the English Derby final. Like so many by Coolavanny Hoffa, he has early pace to burn which is so important at Shelbourne. Still has huge untapped potential for a kennel who know exactly how to win this.

Chris Oliver

Bombay Pat - 14/1 with Boylesports (16/1 best price)

A semi-finalist here 12 months ago and he did well to make the final of the English Derby considering he didn’t really take to Towcester. He put a good field to the sword when winning well in a smart 29.32 on his return to this C&D earlier in the month and Graham Holland’s dog looks set to go deep in this competition again.

Droopys Patriot – 16/1 with Boylesports (20/1 best price)

Beat the well-regarded Ballinabola Joe in Tralee’s Juvenile Classic final in March and was only short head away from going unbeaten through the Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk last weekend. Bundles of early speed and still unexposed, Robert Gleeson’s August 2023 whelp remains open to improvement and will take some beating to the first bend.

Graham Banks

Seven Beach - 33/1 with Boylesports (40/1 best price)

My main fancy for the Boylesports Irish Derby is Seven Beach at 40/1 each way. Having made the semi finals of this competition in 2024, Seven Beach has had a fantastic 2025 so far, winning the 2025 Tote Gold Cup and the BoyleSports Champion Stakes, the latter over course and distance. 

Not content with that, but he produced a stunning display to win the Calloway Pro Am @stud Race of Champions in a new track record at Tralee. 40/1 seems a huge price on the back of these runs for trainer Jennifer O’Donnell. 

Proper Heiress - 25/1 with Boylesports (28/1 best price)

It’s not often an English runner heads to the Irish Derby with as much confidence behind them as Proper Heiress has this year. Yes, things didn’t go his way in the English Derby but when he breaks as he did in the Winter Derby Final at Monmore earlier in the year, nothing in the UK can live with him and there may not be many in Ireland who could either. 

Shelbourne is a front runners track and if producing those fast starts consistently, then Mark Wallis’s runner can go a long way in this competition and 28/1 each way Is an attractive price. 

Michael Smyth

Coosane Pickles – 40/1 with Boylesports (66/1 best price) 

Lightly raced in recent months but goes into the Irish Greyhound Derby with every chance if reproducing the 29.34 run from back in February over course and distance. Can show early pace and stays on well, looks a nice type for the competition and looks a solid each way play at the prices. 

Shanahee Boomer – 40/1 with Boylesports (50/1 best price) 

Boomer goes into the Irish Derby on the back of five wins on the bounce, two at Cork and then three over the Derby trip at Shelbourne Park. The September 2022 son of Good News has plenty of early pace and stays on in taking fashion. He’s versatile with regard to trap draw, with wins from the one, two and the four box in recent weeks and looks like a type who could go deep in the event.