Cheap Sandwiches serves up glory as Graham Holland lands fifth Irish Greyhound Derby
"I’m more pleased for the dog than I am for myself - we’ve got to try to win number six now," said trainer Graham Holland. Pic: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott
Graham Holland entered the record books on Saturday night at Shelbourne Park when Cheap Sandwiches gave the Golden, Co. Tipperary trainer a fifth BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby success.
When the difficult decision had to be made to withdraw reigning champion Bockos Diamond, the Derby was seemingly blown wide open, but Cheap Sandwiches stepped up to the plate and delivered three consecutive huge performances to go one place better than when chasing home his kennel companion in the 2024 decider.
As expected, he wasn’t particularly quick to rise from trap five in this final, but his early dash is explosive, and he used it to join the fast-starting Barefoot On Song at the first bend. Driving on around that arc, he led into the back and before the full length of that stretch had been negotiated, he was three lengths clear.
British raider Proper Heiress showed some early and middle pace, but an early clash with Magical Mag caused that lady to tumble out of contention. Droopys Deploy also ran into that trouble and was never able to figure afterwards, while the race’s least experienced runner, Glengar Silent, was slowest to break and always playing catch up.
Meanwhile, up front Cheap Sandwiches maintained his relentless progress towards the trophy and try as Barefoot On Song did, she could not make any inroads on the leader, who strode on majestically to cross the winning line three lengths to the good in 29.37.
Barefoot On Song’s pups have quite something to live up to after she stayed on well to hold the runner-up spot, while Glengar Silent kept on nicely from off the pace to take third place, a further four lengths back.
“You never set out to be a five-time Derby winning trainer - it just comes along,” said Holland, with customary modesty. “If it happens it happens, but it’s lovely to do.
“I’m so pleased for the dog because he deserved it. He got to three Derby finals, and it was third time lucky for him. I’m more pleased for the dog than I am for myself - we’ve got to try to win number six now.”
Focusing on the winner, who was runner-up here in 2024, a very close fourth in the 2025 English Derby, and winner of the Dundalk International a little earlier in the year, he added: “He does what it says on the tin. He’s very professional, very consistent, never fails to run a race really.
“And he takes it all in his stride - that’s why he’s got to three Derby finals. He's such a nice dog to train, and he’s a remarkably sound dog. We’re so lucky.”
Holland had made an early impact when Swords Style led early in a 525 and won in 28.25.
There were some stunning performances on the undercard, and the first of them came in the opening race in which Juvenile Derby finalist Droopys Faithful, trained by young Daniel O’Rahilly, made her 575 yards debut a winning one, and did so with a clock just one spot shy of the 30.59 track record.
The Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate went to Pat Guilfoyle’s talented youngster Magical Major, who cleverly sidestepped early trouble, quickened to lead into the third, and raced home two clear of Sunshine Sioux in 29.53.
Callaway Five took the Derby Consolation after a ding-dong battle with Magical Sapphire, Owen McKenna’s dog digging in incredibly deep to win by a neck, in 29.77.
Karol Ramsbottom’s Cheque For Cash, a Derby quarterfinalist, bounced back to winning ways, posting 29.50, while the remarkable Glengar Martha, who is rising four, was at her best posting 28.01 over 525.
Jennifer O’Donnell’s Born To Perform (41.28) turned the 750 into a procession, while Liam Dowling’s Solo And Go produced the most mature performance of his promising career when winning a 525 in 28.28.
Anton Butler’s De Bono Lad chose a good night to put a 13th victory on his card, doing so in 29.65.
Michael O’Donovan’s Stonepark Browne (18.51) routed the opposition in the sprint, and doubled up with Coosane Pickles (32.31), who wrapped up the night in the 600.
