The 2026 Irish Greyhound Derby is already shaping up to be a fascinating contest. With the first round kicking off in early August and the final scheduled for September 12th at Shelbourne Park, the biggest prize in Irish greyhound racing will once again attract the best trainers and dogs from both sides of the Irish Sea.
For anyone looking to get ahead of the action, understanding which trainers consistently deliver at this level can make all the difference. These five names have established themselves as the dominant forces in Irish greyhound racing and will be the ones to watch as the countdown to the Irish Greyhound Derby begins.
Graham Holland
Graham Holland stands alone as the most successful trainer in Irish Derby history. Based at Riverside Kennels in Golden, County Tipperary, Holland secured his record-breaking fifth Irish Derby title in September 2025 when Cheap Sandwiches stormed home in the final.
Holland has now won the competition in 2016, 2019, 2020, 2024 and 2025, putting him ahead of legendary trainers Tom Lynch and Gay McKenna, who each claimed four titles.
What makes Holland particularly dangerous is his ability to produce multiple contenders in the same competition.
Paul Hennessy
Paul Hennessy from Kilkenny represents another formidable presence in Derby competitions. Hennessy is one of only two trainers to have won the English, Irish and Scottish Derby titles, making him a genuine triple crown achiever in the sport.
He claimed the Irish Derby in 2007 with Tyrur Rhino and has since added two English Derby victories with Jaytee Jet in 2016 and Priceless Blake in 2019, along with three Scottish Derby wins.
Hennessy famously balances greyhound training with racehorse training, even producing a Cheltenham Festival winner in Heaven Help Us in 2021. With over 5,000 winners to his name, Hennessy knows exactly what it takes to peak a dog for the biggest occasions.
Liam Dowling
Liam Dowling from Ballymac in County Kerry is another master trainer whose dogs wear the famous Ballymac prefix. Dowling made history in 2024 when De Lahdedah won the English Greyhound Derby at Towcester, equalling the track record in the process.
Dowling has been breeding and training top-class greyhounds for decades, with his operation producing dogs that consistently reach the latter stages of major competitions.
His deep understanding of bloodlines and breeding has been built up over years of hands-on experience, making him one of the most respected figures in Irish greyhound racing.
Pat Buckley
Pat Buckley from Cappawhite in County Tipperary has built an outstanding reputation for his work with young greyhounds and his ability to time their peak performances perfectly.
Buckley won the Irish Derby in 2009 with College Causeway, a greyhound still regarded as one of the all-time greats, and has also claimed the Scottish Derby title. He won the English Derby in 2020 with Deerjet Sydney, coming agonisingly close to completing the triple crown of English, Irish and Scottish Derbies.
Buckley is known for his patient approach to training, focusing on developing dogs at the right pace rather than rushing them.
Patrick Guilfoyle
Patrick Guilfoyle from Cloughjordan in County Tipperary balances his work as a schoolteacher with his passion for greyhound training.
Guilfoyle won the Irish Derby in 2017 with Good News, a victory he described as a dream come true and the holy grail of Irish greyhound racing. Since then, he has continued to produce high-quality runners, including Good Cody, who won the prestigious Irish Greyhound Laurels in 2022.
Guilfoyle represents a new generation of part-time trainers who have proven they can compete with the established full-time operations.
Article written by Craig Fielding
