Ireland’s biggest dog race, the Irish Greyhound Derby, takes place annually at Shelbourne Park in the national capital of Dublin. Naturally a major occasion for Irish Greyhound Derby betting, this race is one of the biggest and most prestigious greyhound events of the year.

  • Sponsors of Irish Greyhound Derby
  • Founded back in 1982
  • £10 In Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 1982
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 1982
18+ New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £20 in FREE Bets (FB) as £10 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
  • Great greyhound odds
  • Includes sports commentary
  • Bet £10 get £40 in bonuses
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 2011
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 2011
18+ New UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
  • Fantastic odds on greyhounds
  • Well over a dozen promotions
  • Bet £5 get £20
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 1886
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 1886
18+ New UK+ ROI Customers only. Deposit & Bet min £5 as first bet at minimum odds 1/2 to qualify for 1x £20 Free Bet. Certain deposit methods and bet types excluded. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
  • Daily promotions
  • Free bets on offer
  • Bet £10 get £30
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 1934
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 1934
18+. New customers using Promo code R30 only. Min £10 stake, min odds ½, free bets paid as 3x £10, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment methods/player/country restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad

The Irish Greyhound Derby is the most prestigious dog race on the Irish greyhound calendar, with the final staging the culmination of many rounds of races in which the final six runners must qualify for the right to run on the night. The race itself is run over a distance of 530 metres around the dog track at Shelbourne Park in Dublin and is contested by six dogs.

In 2021, it was announced that Irish bookie BoyleSports will be renewing its sponsorship of the Irish Greyhound Derby by three years. The deal comes with a three-year €1m commitment and takes tnhe bookmaker’s sponsorship of the Derby to 10 years, with its value set to exceed €3m in total.

The 2022 Irish Greyhound Derby kicks will next take place in 2024.

It takes place at Dublin’s historic Shelbourne Park and is largely considered to be Ireland’s most prestigious greyhound event.

The structure of the different rounds is simple. First, a series of heats takes place to eliminate greyhounds from the competition based on their placement. The quarter-finals consist of four heats, with the top three making the 12 for the semi-finals. This then leads us to our final six, who will chase down glory over 550 yards on the fateful final Saturday of September.

Round 1: TBC

Round 2: TBC

Round 3: TBC

Quarter Finals: TBC

Semi-Finals: TBC

Finals: TBC

The table below is based on the ante-post odds before the first round has taken place. Do note that there is no guarantee any of these will make the final.

Because of the number of racers in these events, different bookmakers provide odds on a spectrum of competitors. This list is of the top 15 to ensure they are consistently available across most operators covering this event. The odds represent the best value available for each market at the time of writing.

With so many racers to choose from, it can be tricky to know where to begin. We'll be posting our predictions for the 2024 derby closer to the date. We recommend you bookmark this page to check back in.

Irish Greyhound Derby Tips

Check out BoyleSports for odds on upper mid-ranked horses

There’s a lot of great betting sites offering odds on the Irish Greyhound Derby. Paddy Power and Ladbrokes, for instance, are very competitive when it comes to the favourites. However, if you look a little bit further down the odds table, you’ll find that BoyleSports frequently comes out strong, especially just below the top 12. If you were planning on going for some picks at around this odds level, they are absolutely worth paying extra attention to.

Spread your bets at this early stage

With such a broad field of options, there is no doubting that straight up picking a favourite successfully is tough. If you want to improve your chances of success, there are two easy options. One is to back more than one dog, and the other is to go for an each-way market. Selecting multiple runners is also a fantastic way of staying invested through the earlier stages of the Irish Greyhound Derby as well.

Sign up to multiple bookmakers for maximum promotions

There are many fantastic betting offers which you can utilise on the Irish Greyhound Derby. And, get this – there is no need to just settle for one of them. If you wish to make numerous picks or simply get the most out of your selection, always remember you can sign up to multiple bookmaker accounts.  That does not just mean a broader selection of odds, but also greater access to more bonus offers.

Study the form of your picks

It might be early days to have a complete racing form of the final, but you can still do research on the top picks. Information on many of these racers are just a Google search away, even if there’s not yet an abundance of information from the bookmakers themselves. If you want to go the extra mile, we’d say this is well worth the effort.

Focus on having fun

Ultimately, no tips or predictions can ensure that your wager is successful. This is especially the case in a huge event as competitive as this. However, if you bet responsibly and focus on having fun during the Irish Greyhound Derby, then you are already a winner.

Irish Greyhound Derby Promotions 2024

When it comes to sports betting promotions, greyhound racing markets, alongside horse racing betting, is consistently among the greatest beneficiaries.

While there may some great promotions exclusive to this event as we get closer to the finals, there really is no need to wait. Best Odds Guaranteed and enhanced odds offers provide a foundation of promotional bounties, while free bet bonuses are commonly available for all kinds of racing events.

While there can be no doubt that the Irish Greyhound Derby is one of the most important events in the racing calendar, there’s also an abundance of betting options all year round. So, what specifically makes this such a great race to bet on? Here’s 5 key reasons we think it’s worth your while.

  1. 1.

    Odds are incredibly competitive: Did you know that the more interest an event has from bookmakers the better it is for you? The reason is simple. If there is a lot of competition, there is more pressure on operators to provide the best deal possible. And with the biggest dog race in Ireland, you know that is exactly what you are going to get so long as you utilise a quality bookie.

  2. 2.

    It’s great entertainment: We should never lose sight of the fact that the reason we bet on sports is to have fun. And there is arguably no race more entertaining than the Irish Greyhound Derby. With the finest runners, huge prizes money, and top trainers, you are in for a great show no matter who wins.

  3. 3.

    Ideal for newcomers and experts alike: One of the things we love most about racing is that it has mass appeal – not just as an event for spectators, but also as a betting venture. You can be a total newcomer and know enough to pick a selection you think will place or win. Racing as a concept is so simple that anyone can get involved. At this same time, this is a sport with an immense amount of depth. If you have a betting strategy that works, this is the place to utilise it. You can be as casual or as in-depth as you like, and still have a great time – few events can boast that.

  4. 4.

    Broad availability: We always recommend seeking out the best odds, promotions, and bookmakers. That said, if you are with a reputable sports bookie, not only should this event be available, but it should be available with a broad and early selection of markets.

  5. 5.

    People will be watching from around the world: Everyone coming together to enjoy a big sporting event is part of makes these occasions so important. It is something you can chat about the next day at work, a reason to get together and have a good time. Placing a bet simply adds to the fun.

  • List Icon

    BoyleSports

  • List Icon

    QuinnBet

  • List Icon

    Unibet

  • List Icon

    William Hill

Dog racing is an extremely popular pastime in Ireland, more so even than in England. Of course, the Irish still enjoy betting on football and rugby as well as being one of the hubs for international horse racing, but there is something about betting on the dogs that really gets Irish blood pumping. As one of the biggest occasions for Irish bookmakers, you'll be glad to know that there is no shortage of fantastic Irish Greyhound Derby betting opportunities, some of which we have listed below.

To Win Outright Betting

A bet to win outright is nothing more complicated than to bet on the winning dog. In greyhound racing, punters normally bet by naming the dog’s trap number, although names will also be accepted.

Best Irish Greyhound Derby betting site for Outright Winner: BoyleSports

Forecast Betting

Forecast betting is where bettors make a prediction on the first two dogs to finish the race – that is to say, the winning dog and the runner up. Note: the bet can only pay out if the punter has also predicted the correct finishing order. If they wish to, punters can double their stake and place a reverse forecast, which means that the same two dogs can finish in the top two places in any order.

Best Irish Greyhound Derby betting site for forecast bets: Betfred

Tricast Betting

Like the forecast, a tricast is a finishers bet; only this time, it is on the first three dogs, rather than just the two. Again, getting the order right is critical to the bet paying out, but the odds are greater than the forecast as you need to correctly guess the finishing positions of three dogs instead of just two.

Best Irish Greyhound Derby betting site for tricast betting: Coral

Each-Way Tricast Betting

With an each-way tricast, punters can, for an increased stake, bet on the first three dogs to cross the finishing line in any order whatsoever. When you place a bet for an each-way tricast, you will be charged six times the original stake for each potential outcome.

Best Irish Greyhound Derby betting site for each-way tricast betting: SportingBet

Greyhound racing is very popular in Ireland, and the race's inaugural run took place at Harold's Cross in 1928; however, it wasn’t recognised officially until 1932. Back then, the race was known in Ireland as the National Derby, and the first ever winner was Tipperary Hills. When the race was made official, it was moved to Shelbourne Park before the run was held alternately between both venues.

The race has also gone off at Cork Greyhound Stadium and Markets Field Greyhound Stadium in Limerick, both of which are closed today, and by 1969, it was held at Harold's Cross for the final time. During the Covid pandemic, we nearly didn’t get any Irish Greyhound Derby 2020 results but fortunately, save for being staged behind closed doors, this event was largely unaffected.

Recent Irish Greyhound Derby Winners

YearWinning GreyhoundTrainer
2021Susie SapphireOwen McKenna
2020Newinn TaylorGraham Holland
2019Lenson BockoGraham Holland
2018Ballyanne SimJames Robinson
2017Good NewsPatrick Guilfoyle
2016Rural HawaiiGraham Holland
2015Ballymac MattLiam Dowling
2014Laughil BlakeMichael O'Donovan
2013Slippery RobertRobert Gleeson
2012Skywalker PumaFrances O'Donnell
2011Razldazl GeorgeDolores Ruth

Irish Greyhound Derby Key Stats

  • List Icon

    Three-time winner Spanish Battleship is the most successful greyhound to date.

  • List Icon

    The fastest time ever set at Shelbourne over this distance was set on the 22nd of August 2020, when Pestana clocked 28.99 around the track.

  • List Icon

    Since 1968, the race has been staged at Shelbourne Park, in Dublin.

The BoyleSports, and Betfred are the best betting sites for the Irish Greyhound Derby.

The event will be broadcast by At The Races.

The prize pool is €300,000, with €20,000 allocated for the winner.

The race is run over 503 metres.

The race takes place at Shelbourne Park, Dublin.

Yes, ante-post books usually open early.

Yes, but there are only six runners, so odds are often short.

Alongside the English Greyhound Derby and the Scottish Greyhound Derby, the Irish Greyhound Derby is ranked as one of the biggest and best events of its kind. Punters everywhere head over to their favourite bookie or wait tentatively in front of their screens to enjoy Irish Greyhound Derby betting online. The event is considered to be the pinnacle of Irish dog racing, and is an occasion not to be missed.

WRITTEN BY Ben Gibson
View all posts by Ben Gibson

Ben has been writing professionally for over a decade. His articles are a great outlet for his inexhaustible supply of sporting facts and enthusiasm. He resides in Yorkshire, where his work is powered by the ever-present sound of a kettle.

Further reading

ThePuntersPage.com © 2006-2024 ThePuntersPage.com