SANDWICHES EMERGES A BRILLIANT DERBY CHAMPION

Ian Fortune

Cheap Sandwiches is the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby champion. In what was his third Derby decider in ten months, the sensational son of Burgess Bucks would emerge a brilliant and deserving winner.

In victory, he would hand Graham Holland his own place in history. Ater joining legends Tom Lynch and Gay McKenna on four Derby successes last November, Holland and his Riverside Kennels operation are now out on their own, responsible for five Derby champions.

A WARM FAVOURITE DESPITE DRIFT

Of course, it came as no surprise as 2024 Derby runner-up Cheap Sandwiches was a red-hot favourite to go one better this year.

Despite drifting in the ring, he would be sent to traps the 4-5 market leader ahead of the UK’s Proper Heiress at 7-2 and the youngster of the field Glengar Silent on 11-2.

Magical Mag was next in at 10-1 with Droopys Deploy attracting plenty of support to start at 12-1. Barefoot On Song was friendless, starting the rank outsider of the field at 40-1. Little did we know she was going to play a huge part in the outcome.

DERBY ROAR AS LOUD AS EVER

The Derby roar was as loud as ever, welcoming the bell and accompanying the hare as it came up behind traps.

And then bang! Barefoot On Song came away like a bullet from a gun to lead up from trap three. Magical Mag came next with the remainder caught a little on heels, including Cheap Sandwiches.

The sectional times weren’t flying. Barefoot On Song, despite rocketing from traps would post 3.40, while Cheap Sandwiches would post his slowest first line sectional of the Derby (3.47). Barefoot On Song continued to dictate into the turn but Cheap Sandwiches was now motoring. Showing big early speed, the favourite would be within a half length of the leader on the turn.

On the inside of the track, Proper Heiress was motoring, getting up the inside of Magical Mag and forcing his rival wide. She would lose her footing and hit the deck, badly hampering Droopys Deploy in the process.

Glengar Silent would fail to hold his position and was last into the turn, although he was soon left fourth after as Magical Mag and Droopys Deploy tangled.

SANDWICHES MAKES HIS MOVE

As all this was happening off the pace, Cheap Sandwiches was making his move.

Joining Barefoot On Song as they swung into the back straight, he quickly charged to the front. Finally, Cheap Sandwiches was in front in a Derby decider.

In what was his third Derby final in ten months, one of the most popular greyhounds in training was on his way to glory on the biggest stage. The crowd certainly approved and each of his strides was greeted with approval from the packed stands.

Barefoot On Song, a mother to a litter of pups, was his nearest rival and was chasing hard but she was never going to reel in Cheap Sandwiches who moved into an almost three length advantage to halfway. Proper Heiress was a similar margin away third, while Glengar Silent attempted to get involved back in fourth.

DERBY GLORY

Running a typically fluent third corner, Cheap Sandwiches never lost an inch of momentum.

He was on his way to Derby success and never faltered. Showing great pace, strength and class, the son of Burgess Bucks and Hearthill Josie was welcomed by a wall of noise as he turned for home and he ran right through the line to contain Barefoot On Song.

Cheap Sandwiches would emerge a three-length winner in 29.37. Barefoot On Song would run the race of her life in second, while Glengar Silent flew home to grab third off Proper Heiress a further four lengths back. There was no luck for Droopys Deploy in fifth, while thankfully Magical Mag galloped on behind the field after picking herself up off the sand.

There were joyous scenes after the race. Gary Walshe walked Cheap Sandwiches back up the track, stopping to speak so well to Virgin Media’s Barry Whyte. The presentation area was packed with so many unable to contain their excitement, relief and delight.

After five weeks of the most pulsating racing, Cheap Sandwiches had done it. He had claimed the Derby crown and few would begrudge him his place in history. 

Kerry Boyle presents the trophy to Dan Brasil and Claire Boyle presents the Trainers Trophy to Graham Holland after Cheap Sandwiches won the 2025 BOYLE Sports Irish Derby. Also included are Tim Lucey CEO GRI, Pat Flanagan Chairman GRI, Nickey, Rachel and Timothy Holland and the winning connections.                  Pic: Imelda Grauer

THE CHEAP SANDWICHES STORY

Cheap Sandwiches would discard the bridesmaid tag in wonderful fashion.

A brilliant and deserving winner of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby, he was greeted by his lucky owners the Bark Wahlberg Syndicate - a group of college friends with a few added into the mix.

The road to Derby glory began at the wedding of Ger Brassil, a son of Dan Brassil. A discussion on whether a group of friends should buy a horse was put to bed by Dan, who told them in no uncertain terms that they would be mad to buy a horse and it would make much more sense to buy a greyhound.

And so, a syndicate was set up. With various members of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch FC five-aside football team in the group, they chose to call themselves the Bark Wahlberg Syndicate.

Dan Brassil was tasked with finding them a dog and they had some success with a couple of their first purchases including Free Sandwiches and Doggy Barko. The syndicate is made up of Dan Brassil and his son Ger, ‘the money man’ Dave O’Brien, Eoin Sweeney, Dan’s son in law Keith Daly, Eoin O’Goilligan, Dara Lundain, Kevin O’Donovan, Rob Hanley, Fergal O’Donnell (described as a wealthy f**ker by his friends) and Jim O’Brien. 

DAN TASKED WITH FINDING A DOG AND TURNED TO JOE

Dan Brassil was again tasked with finding them a fourth track performer and he turned to his great friend Joe O’Connor of Ballyduff. Joe had bred a litter of Burgess Bucks out of his very talented racer Hearthill Josie.

She had just six career starts in the opening half of 2022 but won four times, posting 28.36, 28.68 and 28.70 around Tralee. Her dam line goes back to Skipping Chick. Dan was suitably impressed with the pups and made his choice.

It wasn’t long after he began to work with Cheap Sandwiches that he realised he had a good one. He would contest the Lee Strand with Dan at the end of the lead but after finishing runner-up in the famous stake, would move to Graham Holland’s all-conquering Riverside Kennels and the rest is certainly history.

As for the name, the various members of the Syndicate were coy on how they came up with it but suggested it all went back to a night in Las Vegas. You know what they say. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.