A NOTABLE MAGICAL DOUBLE AT DUNDALK
Ian Fortune
Just under a year ago, Magical Luka made a stunning debut at Dundalk before going on to establish himself as one of the very fastest in Ireland the UK.
ALL ABOUT LENNIES DESIRE IN THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE TWO WHEEL TRAINING OPEN 750 AT CURRAHEEN PARK
Barry Drake
LENNIES DESIRE (Signet Ace-Free From Desire), trained by Paul Hennessy for owner Lee Craze, set the standard in the semi-finals of the €5,000 to the winner Two Wheel Training Open 750 at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.
KEVINSFORT TRUMP COMPLETES GOBA CLEAN SWEEP
Peter Farrell
The final of the Limerick & Clare GOBA A3 525 served as the highlight at Limerick Stadium on Saturday night and it went largely to script as Kevinsfort Trump completed a clean sweep throughout the stake, in turn registering a fourth successive victory on the spin.
SHELBOURNE PARK TRIAL RESULTS SATURDAY 23/5/2026
GRI
Shelbourne Park Trial Results Saturday 23/5/2026:
KILKENNY GIVEN A WONDERFUL BAPTISM
Ian Fortune
A huge crowd poured through the stiles at Kilkenny on Friday night for the official opening of their new grandstand and facilities.
SCAMPI WINS AN 1XBET ISLANDBRIDGE OPEN SPRINT THRILLER
Ian Fortune
The judge was called into action before declaring Droopys Scampi a brilliant winner of the 1XBET Islandbridge Open Sprint at Shelbourne Park on Friday night.
MUSIC INTHE AIR AND BALLYMAC CHARBEL IMPRESS IN LEE STRAND SEMI FINALS
Barry Drake
MUSIC INTHE AIR (Ballymac Cashout-Nocturnal Hekla) went quickest on the clock in the semi-finals of the €10,000 to the winner Lee Strand 550.
CRAFTY COOLIO A NAME TO REMEMBER
Peter Farrell
Friday night’s card at Galway was dominated by novice action, but it was January ’25 whelp Crafty Coolio who stole the headlines with a breath-taking debut success in the semi-finals of the Bet on the Tote ON2/ON3 350.
POTENTIAL FOR A 1XBET ISLANDBRIDGE OPEN SPRINT EPIC
Ian Fortune
Tonight’s feature at Shelbourne Park, the final of the 1XBET Islandbridge Open Sprint, will be worth the admission fee alone.
EPISODE 239: TOM KINANE & PAT MORRISSEY TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY
Barry Drake
Barry talks to Tom Kinane, racing manager at Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium about the official opening of the new stand as well as a cafe area for this Friday night along with the racing action. Barry also speaks to Pat Morrissey of Clonmel Greyhound Stadium ahead of Sunday nights, €20,000 to the winner National Produce Stakes Final.
AUCTION DETAILS FOR ENNISCORTHY FUNDRAISER
Ian Fortune
Enniscorthy continue preparations for their upcoming fundraiser on Monday, June 1st and Ivan Yates has been confirmed as their celebrity auctioneer on the night.
DRUMCROW IS NO LEMON
Ian Fortune
The feature of Tuesday’s action at Shelbourne Park was the final of the Upcoming Events A4 525 and Roy Ruddy’s Drumcrow Lemon said goodbye to graded company for a while with a massive front running display as she clocked a rapid 28.48 on a track rated .20 fast.
A BUNDLE OF BRILLIANCE AT THURLES
Peter Farrell
Those who took advantage of the free admission at Thurles Greyhound Stadium on Tuesday night were rewarded with a blockbuster final of the Thurles Champion Bitch Stake, which was landed in terrific fashion by Droopys Bundle.
TALKING DOGS ON MONDAY 18TH MAY - TALKING OAKS & MORE!
GRI
Ian Fortune and Tommy Lyons are joined by Barry Drake to delve into the opening round of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks, plus a look at all the big action of the weekend across the country.
IRELAND’S TOWCESTER PROGRESS BY NUMBERS
Ian Fortune
As we look forward to the quarter finals of the Star Sports& Orchestrate English Greyhound Derby, the competition is finely balanced with Ireland now responsible for exactly half of the remaining runners after 12 of a possible 19 qualified from Saturday’s third round.
LIAM AND KAMALA UNSTOPPABLE IN OAKS
Ian Fortune
The 2026 Sporting Press Irish Oaks got underway at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night and two names really came to the fore, that of Liam Dowling and Ballymac Kamala.
RECORD BREAKING ACE AS IRISH IMPRESS AT TOWCESTER
Ian Fortune
A total of twelve Irish trained greyhound progressed from the third round of the Star Sports & Orchestrate English Derby at Towcester on Saturday night but the headlines had to go to Epic Ace as he lived up to his name with the most incredible track record breaking display.
JAYPEES COOPER QUICKEST IN OPEN 750 AS BIG CROWD SHOW UP
Barry Drake
A massive crowd turned out for the Duhallow Hunt benefit night at Curraheen Park on Saturday night. On the track, the opening round of the €5,000 to the winner Two Wheel Training Open 750 were the feature races.
KEVINSFORT COMES UP TRUMPS IN LIMERICK GOBA SEMIS
Peter Farrell
There was no shortage of sweepstake action at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as the semi-finals of the Limerick & Clare GOBA A2 525 shared top billing with the opening round heats of the Limerick Brakes A1 550.
SHELBOURNE PARK TRIAL RESULTS SATURDAY 16/5/2026
GRI
Shelbourne Park Trial Results Saturday 16/5/2026:
THE SPORTING PRESS AND THE OAKS – AN ENDURING PARTNERSHIP
Ian Fortune
Thirty-five years is a long time in any sport, but in sponsorship terms it represents an era of great loyalty, commitment and shared success. Over that time, the Irish Greyhound Oaks and the Sporting Press have become so closely intertwined that it is now difficult to imagine one without the other.
SCAMPI AND BROWNE IN A HURRY IN 1XBET ISLANDBRIDGE OPEN SPRINT
Ian Fortune
There was some superb racing on offer at Shelbourne Park on Friday night and, fittingly, the two best displays on the card came in the feature, the semi-finals of the 1XBET Islandbridge Open Sprint.
PRINCE RULES IN NEWBRIDGE DERBY
Ian Fortune
Maireads Prince will enter his fifth year as the Friends of Newbridge Derby champion after a dominant display in Friday’s €3,500 decider at the Kildare venue.
MARQUESS DOWNS DIAMOND IN PRODUCE STAKES SEMIS
Peter Farrell
The semi-finals of the 2026 National Produce Stakes ensured a strong crowd descended on Clonmel on Friday night, where Scooby Marquess produced a sensational display to lower the colours of hot favourite Swords Diamond.
MUSIC INTHE AIR STARS IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE LEE STRAND
Barry Drake
MUSIC INTHE AIR (Ballymac Cashout-Nocturnal Hekla) produced another performance of the very highest order in the second round of the €10,000 to the winner Lee Strand 550 at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium on Friday night.
BOBMAR BREAKS THE CLOCK ON CLONMEL UNDERCARD
Peter Farrell
While the semi-finals of the National Produce Stakes served as the main attraction at Clonmel on Friday night, the undercard produced a performance of the highest quality as Bobmar shattered the 550-yard track record in the semi-finals of the Seven Beach @ Stud A2 550.
DREAM AND BROWNE CLASH IN 1XBET ISLANDBRIDGE
Ian Fortune
The sprinters again take centre stage at Shelbourne Park this evening with the second round of the 1XBET Islandbridge Open Sprint the feature.
EPISODE 238: PATRICK GUILFOYLE & MARK FANNING TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY WITH BARRY DRAKE
Barry Drake
Barry Drake looks ahead to the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks this week with trainer Patrick Guilfoyle. Barry also chats to Mark Fanning ahead of Tuesday night’s final of the €3,000 to the winner Thurles Track Champion Bitch Stake.
PLATE CHAMPION TIBET SOLD TO UK
Ian Fortune
Ballymac Tibet, a brilliant winner of the 2025 Champion Plate at Shelbourne Park, has been sold to the Gary Armstrong and is set to continue his racing career in the UK.
MAGICAL RUN FROM JAMES IN SHELBOURNE FEATURE
Ian Fortune
Magical James justified odds-on favouritism in Tuesday’s feature at Shelbourne Park, the final of the April Monthly Novice ON2 525.
NEWBRIDGE TO RUN EXTRA MEETING ON MONDAY, JUNE 8TH
Ian Fortune
Newbridge have been granted permission to run an extra meeting on Monday, June 8th and those hoping to have a runner should contact the racing office.
SHELBOURNE PARK TRIAL RESULTS TUESDAY 12/5/2026
GRI
Shelbourne Park Trial Results Tuesday 12/5/2026:
ANN LENEHAN - A TRUE LADY RIP
By now most will be aware of the sad and sudden passing of Ann Lenehan in recent days.
MOLLY IMPRESSES IN ENNISCORTHY FEATURE
Ian Fortune
Millpark Molly emerged a superb winner of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Open Unraced at Enniscorthy on Monday night, posting a rapid 28.85 on her way to victory for owned David Kealy.
ENNISCORTHY GEARING UP FOR JUNE 1ST FUNDRAISER
Ian Fortune
All roads lead to the sunny south east on Bank Holiday Monday, June 1st.
IRELAND’S TOWCESTER PROGRESS BY NUMBERS
Ian Fortune
A total of 20 Irish greyhounds from a possible 25 qualified from the second round of the Star Sports& Orchestrate English Greyhound Derby over the weekend with 8 of the 16 heats, or exactly half, going to the raiding party.
TALKING DOGS ON MONDAY 11TH MAY
GRI
Ian and Tommy take us on a mini-tour of the country with their thoughts of the big racing action of the weekend and of course, the big one over in Towcester, the English Greyhound Derby.
ANN LENEHAN RIP
The death has occurred of Ann Lenehan, the beloved Mother of our RCÉ colleague Linda Conroy (Tote Manager Shelbourne Park).
SALES FIXTURES FOR MAY TO AUGUST 2026
GRI
The Sales Committee have approved the Sales Dates and Sales Venues for May to August 2026.
DUFFLE LEADS THE CHARGE AS TEAM IRELAND IMPRESS AT TOWCESTER
Ian Fortune
Ireland continued their impressive progress through the Star Sports & Orchestrate English Derby at Towcester on Saturday night, winning five of the eight heats while Ballymac Duffle again stole the headlines with a stunning track record breaking run.
CODY AND WILL TAKE SHELBOURNE FEATURES
Ian Fortune
Say You Will and Foulkscourt Cody took the two feature races at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night with the former posting a fastest of the night 28.25 on his way to a comfortable victory in the final of the www.grireland.ie A1.
SNIPER STRIKES GOLD IN PEGASUS CUP DECIDER
Barry Drake
KILLOUGH SNIPER (Pestana-Bees Dream) delivered a brave performance to win the feature at Curraheen Park on Saturday night, the €7,500 to the winner Pegasus Cup.
BRILLIANT BUNDLE STARS IN THURLES CHAMPION BITCH STAKE
Peter Farrell
The semi-finals of the Thurles Champion Bitch Stake produced a pair of high-class contests at the Premier venue on Saturday night, with Droopys Bundle building on her promising opening-round effort by posting the fastest time of the night in a brilliant display.
KACIES SETS THE GOBA STANDARD AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
Four opening round heats of the Limerick & Clare GOBA 525 served as the highlight at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and Kacies Beauty set the standard with a fine off-the-pace performance in heat two.
SHELBOURNE PARK TRIAL RESULTS SATURDAY 9/5/2026
GRI
Shelbourne Park Trial Results Saturday 2/5/2026:
CHARBEL ANOTHER STAR IN THE MAKING FOR THE BALLYMAC TEAM
Barry Drake
BALLYMAC CHARBEL (Ballymac Cashout-Ballymac Pete) was quickest on the clock in the opening round of the €10,000 to the winner Lee Strand 550 at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium on Friday night.
DIAMOND SPARKLES AGAIN AS PRODUCE STAKES HEATS THRILL AT CLONMEL
Peter Farrell
The four second round heats of the 2026 National Produce Stakes featured at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and Swords Diamond continued his assault on the classic with yet another brilliant performance.
DREAM GOES FAST IN 1XBET ISLANDBRIDGE OPEN SPRINT
Ian Fortune
Since debuting last June, Tiermana Dream has been progressing steadily as a sprinter, developing into one of the best in training over two bends but his Friday night display in the opening round of the 1XBET Islandbridge Open Sprint was different class to anything that came before.
ACE LEADS THE WAY FOR IRELAND IN TOWCESTER
Ian Fortune
Three of Friday’s opening session of second round heats in the Star Sports English Greyhound Derby were won by Irish trained trackers with John Kennedy’s Epic Ace landing the headlines with a record equalling 28.37 return in Heat 2.
DAVID FITZGIBBON MEMORIAL OPEN 525 LAUNCHED AT CURRAHEEN PARK
GRI
Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium is delighted to announce sponsorship of the David Fitzgibbon Memorial Open 525 Stake, which will get underway with first round heats on Saturday, May 30th.
SPRINT STARS IN ACTION AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
The 1XBET Islandbridge Sprint gets underway at Shelbourne Park this evening and is likely to provide some superb performances.
ONE OF THE BEST, CLARES ROCKET, PASSES
Ian Fortune
The always wonderful social media feed of Riverside Kennels posted the sad news yesterday evening that Clares Rocket, one of the fastest greyhounds of the modern era, has passed away at twelve years of age after a long and happy retirement.
EPISODE 237: LIAM PEACOCK & OLIVIA MURPHY TALKING DOGS ON THURSDAY WITH BARRY DRAKE
Barry Drake
Barry and Liam reflect on Bogger Bob’s brilliant Droopys Stud Select Stakes success in Kilcohan Park, and Olivia fills him in on the Fundraising Information Evening at Curraheen Park.
ISLANDBRIDGE SPRINT STARTS FRIDAY
Ian Fortune
The draw for the 1XBET Islandbridge Sprint went online late yesterday evening and there will be some talented sprinters on show in the two-bend stake.
CHARLIE WITH A CHARMING DISPLAY
Ian Fortune
The pups took the headlines at Shelbourne Park on Tuesday with a number of promising displays, including that of the exciting Charming Charlie in the feature, the final of the Blink & You’ll Miss It ON1 350.
TALKING DOGS ON TUESDAY 5TH MAY
GRI
Ian and Tommy give us their thoughts on all the big greyhound racing action of the weekend.
VIDEO: 2026 SHELBOURNE OPEN 600 FINAL
GRI
Trainer Owen McKenna added the 600 to his list of big wins on Saturday night in Shelbourne Park as Mydras Opinion put in a powerful display to land the prestigious title.
VIDEO: 2026 DROOPYS STUD SELECT STAKES FINAL
GRI
Join us to look back on the Final plus chat to owner/trainer Liam Peacock and sponsor Michael Dunphy.
IRELAND’S TOWCESTER PROGRESS BY NUMBERS
Ian Fortune
A total of 27 Irish greyhounds from a possible 39 qualified from the opening round of the Star Sports& Orchestrate English Greyhound Derby over the weekend with 13 of the 28 heats going to the raiding party.
CLEAN SWEEP FOR STAR IN SORLEY O’DORNAN DECIDER
Peter Farrell
The €2,500-to-the-winner Sorley O’Dornan Memorial 525 final at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Sunday evening went very much to script, with Knocknadoguestar completing a clean sweep across the competition.
OPINION POUNCES LATE FOR MEMORABLE 600 TRIUMPH
Ian Fortune
After going close in the past, Owen McKenna finally got over the line in the Shelbourne Open 600 at a busy Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as Mydras Opinion produced a power-packed display to get up on the line to land the €15,000 prize.
LAST TO FIRST FOR BOGGER BOB IN SELECT STAKES FINAL
Barry Drake
Liam Peacock enjoyed big race success at Kilcohan Park on Saturday night, as BOGGER BOB (Callaway Pro Am-Bogger Megan) delivered a powerful performance to win the €10,000 to the winner Droopys Stud Select Stakes.
THREE ON THE BOUNCE FOR TETRA DESTINY IN PEGASUS CUP
Barry Drake
The semi-finals of the €7,500 to the winner Pegasus A2 Stake were the feature races at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.
BUCKLEY DOUBLE AS MOANA QUICKEST IN CHAMPION BITCH OPENER
Peter Farrell
Saturday morning saw the opening round heats of the 2026 Champion Bitch get underway at Thurles Greyhound Stadium, and of the three heats on offer, it was Brickhill Moana who went marginally fastest as she continued her recent purple patch for Vincent McKenna.
SHELBOURNE PARK TRIAL RESULTS SATURDAY 2/5/2026
GRI
Shelbourne Park Trial Results Saturday 2/5/2026.
MIXED LUCK FOR IRISH AS DIAMOND BOWS OUT ON RETURN
Ian Fortune
The Irish experienced mixed fortunes at Towcester on Friday night as the Star Sports & Orchestrate English Greyhound Derby got underway.
SWORDS DIAMOND A CUT ABOVE RIVALS IN PRODUCE STAKES OPENER
Peter Farrell
The first round heats of the €20,000-to-the-winner National Produce Stakes got underway at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Friday night, and there were several notable performances, none more so than Swords Diamond, who set the standard in exceptional fashion.
CURRAHEEN PARK GREYHOUND STADIUM TO HOST SPECIAL FUNDRAISING INFORMATION EVENING WITH DAVY RUSSELL
GRI
Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium hosted a special Fundraising Information Evening on Friday, 8th May at 6.30pm, offering local charities, schools, clubs, and community groups a unique opportunity to enhance their fundraising efforts in a simple and effective way.