Croydon looks Irish Derby value, Monarch set to reign yet again

THE semi-finals of the 2026 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby headline the Saturday action at Shelbourne Park tonight - live on sisracing.tv as part of an 11-race card also featuring the same stage of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate.

Ian Fortune's Irish Derby semi picks are Patrick Barrett's well-drawn Croydon Avenger (9.06) and Michael O'Donovan's unbeaten Bouncing Monarch (9.24).

His nap vote goes to Pat Guilfoyle's Music Inthe Air in a 525 yards maiden at 8.48, while his next best is Pat Buckley's Text Amiright over the same trip at 9.40.

The Shelbourne Park commentator has full race-by-race analysis of the main Shelbourne action via the link below:

Preview: Saturday Shelbourne - semi-finals of the Irish Derby

SHELBOURNE PARK’s Saturday evening card sees the semi-finals of both the €125,000 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby and Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate as part of an 11-race card. Every race in every round of the Irish Derby is live on sisracing.tv all the way

SIS RacingJonathan Kay

There is also Irish racing from Youghal this afternoon where the fancies are Vincent O'Keeffe's Hold The Door (1.49), Derek Kehoe's Slaneyside Tomas (3.03) and Nicholas Walsh's Seaview Deise (3.41).

Doncaster has a Saturday double-header with Jimmy Gaskin's Annual Mason set to capitalise on a class drop when he goes in a B2 over 450m at 11.04.

The subsequent Donny evening fixture is an all-open eight-race affair where the standouts are Barry Denby's Aghaburren Luna (6.29) and Gaskin's Deerjet Rocket (7.04).

There is also evening open action at Star Pelaw where Rick Holloway's Mickys Tribute (7.31) bids for a 13th straight unbeaten hurdles outing at the track although he does faces some jeopardy this time having been given a real scare by re-opposing kennelmate Savanabetgoodwin on Monday.

Music Inthe Air (nap)
T1 Shelbourne Park 8.48