Irish Greyhound Derby Quarter-Finals 2026: Draw, Runners, Times and Odds
The Irish Greyhound Derby quarter-finals 2026 take place at Shelbourne Park on Saturday 29 August, with 24 runners chasing 12 semi-final places. Before the first traps open, readers can browse BetBrothers Ireland’s bookmaker and betting-bonus guides or revisit our practical greyhound betting guide for explanations of win, place and forecast markets.
Quarter-final draw, runners and race times
All four heats cover 550 yards, or 503 metres. The first quarter-final is Race 6 on Saturday’s Shelbourne card.
| Heat / Irish time | Traps 1–6 | Racecard favourite |
|---|---|---|
| QF1 – 20:48 | Croydon Avenger; Coloursaregreen; Hackney Plan; Grouchos Chief; Wi Can James; Uncle Keith | Wi Can James — 1.91 |
| QF2 – 21:06 | Bouncing Monarch; Sober Barry; Bockos Gold; Solo And Go; Harvard Square; Priceless Romeo | Bouncing Monarch — 1.53 |
| QF3 – 21:24 | Hackney Dancer; Sleight Of Hand; Getup The Boy; Faypoint Harvey; Blastoff Heffo; Im Here | Hackney Dancer — 2.63 |
| QF4 – 21:40 | Firstpastthepost; Low Profile; Barntick Bucko; Waitingforastar; Glengar Phantom; Bombay Special | Waitingforastar — 1.91 |
The prices above are decimal conversions of the official GRI racecard’s guide prices, not guaranteed live bookmaker odds.
TonyBet Ireland listed each heat as SP only at the 08:30 check, so no operator price or matching banner should be attached until fixed odds appear.
The four races that shape Saturday night
Shelbourne at Derby time is less a stadium than a pressure chamber: white jackets, bright traps and half a minute in which an entire summer can disappear at the first bend. There is no soft quarter-final, merely different ways for traffic to become decisive.
Wi Can James produced the quickest third-round time, 29.10, and starts QF1 from trap five. The draw creates the obvious question: can he clear four inside runners before the bend?
Bouncing Monarch is the headline act in QF2. Unbeaten in the competition and placed on the rail, he faces early pace from Sober Barry, Bockos Gold and Harvard Square. QF3 looks the most balanced contest. Hackney Dancer has trap one and three straight Derby wins, while Sleight Of Hand, Getup The Boy and wide-drawn Im Here all carry credible claims.
Waitingforastar anchors QF4 from trap four. Bombay Special, the only remaining female, is drawn outside, while Firstpastthepost and Low Profile can make the opening metres uncomfortable.
Three runners advance from each six-dog quarter-final; finishing position matters more than winning margin.
How qualification works
The first three home in each heat qualify for the semi-finals. That cuts the field from 24 to 12 before the next draw.
Straight-win prices can look attractive, but qualification changes the tactical picture. A runner does not need to win to stay alive, so place and “to qualify” markets may suit readers who rate consistency more than early dominance. Forecasts and tricasts demand the correct finishing order and carry considerably more risk.
The official racecard remains the best source for withdrawals, trap changes and revised timings. Any late reserve or market adjustment should be checked again on Saturday.
