Dog-by-dog guide for the 2024 Irish derby final

Trainer: Owen McKenna 

Owner: The Field Sports Syndicate 

Winner of the Juvenile Derby, on three consecutive occasions he broke 28 seconds for 525 yards on his way to victory in that stake, but all the while he looked like a powerful stayer in the making. That stamina has carried him through to this decider and his performances in each of the last two rounds have suggested he could be ready to produce a career-best performance. Has the ideal draw but, to maximise his claims, must ensure the only other inside seed in the race, Singalong Dolly, does not take his ground before the first bend.

2. Singalong Dolly (Droopys Sydney – Mydras Dawn) 

Trainer: Pat Buckley 

Owner: Gilbert Anderson 

One of two bitches in the final, she won the Puppy Oaks in 2023 and started this year by taking the Cesarewitch in devastating fashion, setting a record in the Mullingar classic as she did so. Runner-up in the Tipperary Cup, she is a terrific competition greyhound and much like Callaway Knegare it is her stamina which has earned her a place in the final. Grabbing the rails slot early and denying that position to Callaway Knegare is key to her race. With her best break, she could go well.

3. Cheap Sandwiches (Burgess Bucks – Hearthill Josie) 

Trainer: Graham Holland 

Owner: Bark-Wahlberg Syndicate The first of four seeds in the final, he showed terrific early pace to put his rivals to the sword in the semi-finals, in the process showing that he can cope with trap three. It is not an ideal draw, of course, but this is not a final laden with early pacers and he has every chance to turn in the first two places. He pushed kennelmate Bockos Diamond to half a length in a stake final prior to the Derby and given the make-up of this race he could prove that one’s biggest danger once more.

4. A Lucky Julie (Ballymac Bolger – Julies Paradise) 

Trainer: Jerry Melia 

Owner: Jerry Melia Winner of the Irish Oaks, she was off the track from that victory in June until contesting the first round of this competition and immediately made an impact. Her finishing speed came up a short head shy that night, but there was clear indication that she would be capable of better and could be a force in this competition. A winner in round two and again in the quarter-finals, she possesses a serious finishing kick which could earn her a place in the frame, but she needs to hold her position on the run to the bend.

5. Boylesports Bob (Good News – Roanna Bess) 

Trainer: Paul Hennessy 

Owner: John Boyle and Ned Murphy 

The English Derby runner-up has safely navigated his way through to the final thanks to his tracking ability and finishing speed, though connections surely had some palpitations when the power-packed Da Bold Falcon flew home to push him to a short head for the last qualifying spot in the semi-finals. Like many of the finalists, he lacks a little early pace, but his class has never been in doubt and if there is any trouble amongst the early pacers, he is capable of taking advantage.

6. Bockos Diamond (Dorotas Wildcat – Seaglass Shadow) 

Trainer: Graham Holland 

Owner: Remember Them Syndicate Long odds-on to maintain the only unbeaten record in the Derby, his exceptional early pace carried him to a track record run in round three and he equalled it with another blistering display in the semi-finals. Not dependent on a flying break, his instant acceleration and pace all the way to the third bend is a sight to behold. If he can break to the best of his ability, he will likely build a significant early advantage. A tough track might be a concern but otherwise he is very difficult to oppose.

Summary: Graham Holland’s two representatives, Cheap Sandwiches and Bockos Diamond, appear to hold the key to the Derby final as they are the two early-pace angles in the race. Cheap Sandwiches was a runaway winner of his semi-final heat but on the sectionals, he still has a little to find with his kennelmate. There is no shame in that as Bockos Diamond has long looked something truly special, and he confirmed that with his two track-record runs. His early pace is nothing short of exceptional and if he turns up in the same form as last weekend, it will take some misfortune or something utterly remarkable to lower his colours. With just two early pacers in the race, there is a clear opportunity for a powerful finisher to turn no worse than third and whichever of the other four runners manages to do so could pose a danger to the likely leaders. Callaway Knegare has a favourable draw and thus could be that one.

Selections: 6-3-1