Sandwiches takes Holland into the Irish Derby history books

CHEAP SANDWICHES enshrined trainer Graham Holland in the history books with an authoritative performance to land the €125,000 final of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby over 550 yards at Shelbourne Park.

In doing so, the 4/5 favourite credited Holland with a fifth victory in Ireland's most important race taking him one ahead of Tom Lynch and Gay McKenna in that regard.

Rank outsider Barefoot On Song ripped up the form guide by pinging from trap three and led into the first bend but was quickly challenged by fast up Cheap Sandwiches, while a coming together between Proper Heiress and Magical Mag saw the last-named take a tumble although she was quickly back on her feet.

Cheap Sandwiches, owned by the Bark Wahlberg Syndicate, swept into the lead off the second bend and went on to effectively settle the issue in a matter of strides.

Barefoot On Song stuck to the task really gamely but it was a hopeless pursuit and Cheap Sandwiches came home three lengths to the good in 29.37sec with Glengar Silent passing a tiring Proper Heiress four lengths back in third.

It was a second successive win in the Classic for Holland who landed it in 2024 with Bockos Diamond, who had been chased home by Cheap Sandwiches on that occasion.

The winning syndicate comprises Dan Brassil and his son Ger, Dave O’Brien, Eoin Sweeney, Keith Daly, Eoin O’Goilligan, Dara Lundain, Kevin O’Donovan, Rob Hanley, Fergal O’Donnell and Jim O’Brien. 

Magical Mag's trainer Pat Guilfoyle had enjoyed better luck earlier when his Magical Major (29.53sec) landed the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate courtesy of a superb burst of back straight speed.