SANDWICHES RETIRES A TRUE CHAMPION
Ian Fortune
Cheap Sandwiches has run his final race.
Over the past two years, the son of Burgess Bucks has earned a place in the heart of all those that take even a passing interest in greyhound racing.
THE NEWS IN THEIR OWN WORDS
The news was announced by the always brilliant Riverside Kennels social media channels. Accompanied by a video featuring his greatest nights in the sport, they provided a touching tribute to their star, highlighting his wonderful personality, his many achievements and much more. It reads as follows:
“The time has come to hang up Sambo’s (Cheap Sandwiches) racing boots
What a star this boy has been for us.
From the moment he arrived at the kennel, there was something special about him. A true professional in everything he did, one of the easiest greyhounds to train and the ultimate competition dog.
Sambo quickly became a fan favourite. During his career, people got to see the character behind the athlete. Whether he was watching TV on the sofa, enjoying treats with his Labrador friend Cadbury, posing for the cameras or insisting on going straight into the house for treats after being groomed, he always made people smile.
For much of his career, Sambo was the bridesmaid, finishing runner-up in some of the biggest races. He ran with tremendous courage behind his kennel mate and old rival Bockos Diamond in the 2024 Irish Greyhound Derby, before suffering more heartbreak in the final of the 2025 English Greyhound Derby.
His luck finally changed when he captured the 2025 TIME Dundalk International Open at Dundalk, earning the big-race success he deserved. He then produced the performance of his life throughout the 2025 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby campaign, culminating in a magnificent victory in the final in 29.37. I think most greyhound enthusiasts would agree that nobody deserved to lift that Derby trophy more than Sambo that night.
His final victory came in the 2025 Winter Racing Festival Championship 550 beating the exceptional Ballymac Setanta.
Unfortunately, injuries disrupted the build-up to his 2026 English Derby campaign, where he finished fourth in the 1st round without showing his true class. The plan was always to return for another crack at the 2026 Irish Derby but sadly, injuries meant it just wasn’t to be.
Sambo will now stand at stud at Riverside Kennels, where he has already mated his first bitch. We can’t wait to see some little Sambos inherit his incredible temperament, determination and class.
His story captured the hearts of so many. He’ll forever be remembered as one of the greats and it has been an absolute privilege to train such a special greyhound.
Thank you for everything, Sambo”
A DERBY WINNER
Indeed, there’s not much more to add yet I feel compelled to do so.
It’s often said that in modern greyhound racing, a dog gets one real crack at winning a Derby. It’s a young dog’s game as highlighted by many of the winners this century.
Yet Cheap Sandwiches was simply outstanding through three Derby campaigns, two in Ireland and one in England. And even more remarkable is the fact that the Derby success of Cheap Sandwiches came in the last of the three.
A WEDDING STORY
His story began at a wedding.
And the wedding in question was that of Ger Brassil, a son of Dan Brassil. A discussion on whether a group of friends should purchase a racehorse was completely dismissed by Dan, who told them in no uncertain terms that they would be mad to buy a horse.
Brassil, a legend in greyhound sport, insisted it made far more sense to buy a dog andsoon after a syndicate was set up. Consisting of various members of a five-aside team named the Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch FC, 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 including Free Sandwiches and Doggy Barko. The syndicate, made up of Dan Brassil, 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 and Jim O’Brien, decided to go again.
Dan was again tasked with finding them a pup 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. With her dam line going back to Skipping Chick, Dan was suitably impressed with the pups and made his choice.
He may not have been named to win a Derby but Cheap Sandwiches soon showed Dan that he had plenty of talent. He would contest the Lee Strand, finishing runner-up in the famous stake, before being transferred to Graham Holland’s all-conquering Riverside Kennels. This would prove a marriage made in heaven.
NEW SURROUNDINGS
After moving kennels, he was given time to settle in and gain some valuable experience.
His first win for Holland came at Shelbourne Park in mid-August 2024 as he led home a talented field, including subsequent English Derby winner Droopys Plunge, in the second round of the Juvenile Derby. He exited the classic at the semi-final stages but was now starting to find his feet.
With the Derby on the horizon, it was time for him to return to 550yds and he was aimed at the Time Greyhound Nutrition AA0 550. After impressing in both the opening round and semi-finals, he gave his kennel companion and Derby favourite Bockos Diamond something to think about in the final, failing by just a half a length in second.
And so, it was time for his first Derby campaign. It seems to come so easy for Cheap Sandwiches. He suffered a short defeat in the opening round after finishing bad traffic but returned a week later to win 29.20 before taking his third-round assignment in a rapid 29.18.
He was now firmly amongst the favourites for Derby glory but the aforementioned Bockos Diamond was on a mission. Cheap Sandwiches suffered a narrow defeat in the quarter finals but atoned for that defeat a week later when impressing in the semi-finals as he made all to win in 29.13.
And so, at just over two years of age he was into a Derby final. On a wet, messy night in Dublin, he ran a typically brilliant race to finish second to Bockos Diamond, who had been declared as one of the finest Derby champions of all time. And yet, Cheap Sandwiches was just a length away.
He ended 2024 with a narrow defeat in the Winter Racing Festival Championship Open 550 but was firmly established as one of the very best in training.
2025 - A SPECIAL YEAR
2025 was to be a special year. After a long layoff, he returned to action in April with his first race of the year coming in an English Derby Trial Stake at Towcester.
He came through the race with flying colours and was typically brilliant through the classic, reaching the final.
Despite running another huge race, he finished fourth but again went out on his shield, his fanbase greatly increased for his performances at the Northamptonshire venue.
INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS FOLLOWED
An invite to the Dundalk International followed and, while things didn’t go to plan in the opening exchanges, he displayed his class, determination and incredible ability to emerge on top.
Showing real bravery, he saw off Wicky Ned by a half-length. It was a first major title for Cheap Sandwiches but bigger and better was to come.
He looked a little rusty ahead of his 2025 BOYLE Sports Irish Derby challenge, finishing second in a two-run competition in early August but you can’t keep a champion down.
A DATE WITH DESTINY
A fortnight later, he turned out for the opening round of the Derby and duly obliged at long odds-on. Although he remained one of the favourites for outright success, he was actually a drifter in the ante-post market between the opening two rounds.
But Cheap Sandwiches had always been a greyhound that thrived with racing. An improved display in the second round followed before a clash for the ages in the third round. His old foe Bockos Diamond was a non-runner, but Proper Heiress, the UK’s finest stepped into the breach.
The duo had a titanic tussle with the UK raider coming through to win by a length in 29.27 but there was something about the display of Cheap Sandwiches to suggest he was going to take off soon. He was promoted to favouritism for outright glory and never looked back.
Some six lengths faster than the next quickest quarter final winner, he returned a week later to again set the standard in the semi-finals. Again imperious, he came home a mile clear to post a standard setting 29.14 to ensure that he would start a red-hot favourite in the final.
An odds-on chance ahead of the decider, there was a real sense of inevitability about the race. Nothing comes easy in a Derby final, however, and Cheap Sandwiches had to work hard. Barefoot On Song exploded from traps but the favourite had the bit between his teeth. Cheap Sandwiches flew into the bend to challenge and head his rival on the corner.
It was a decisive maneouvre. After going so close a year earlier, the September ’22 whelp was about to gain immortality. Relentless out front, Cheap Sandwiches raced to a three-length victory on the biggest stage of all. He had finally earned his Derby success and few would begrudge him.
He was greeted by his lucky owners the Bark Wahlberg Syndicate on the presentation and countless friends and family. It was a night they will never forget.
THE END WAS NEAR
Ultimately, he would have just two more races but there was still time to win more silverware.
An even money favourite for the Winter Racing Festival Open 550, a contest he had finished second in a year earlier, he duly found a way to see off Ballymac Setanta after a great clash.
After a six-month layoff, he returned for a second crack at the English Derby but completely walked from traps before qualifying in fourth. After picking up an injury, he was declared a non-runner a week later.
He was given time to recover and seemed to regain full fitness but he had nothing more to prove and connections came to the correct decision. It was time to retire their star.
A GLITTERING CAREER
In a glittering career, he was amongst the most popular and brilliant trackers of modern times.
He has already sired a litter and will do so many times in the future. From a hugely talented family with his dam line going back to Skipping Chick, he is sure to have many admirers in the breeding fraternity.
But he was far more than just a well-bred Derby champion. He was a greyhound with the speed, strength, agility and heart to perform at the highest level over and over again. A greyhound who was named after a trip to Las Vegas, owned by a bunch of friends and trained by a genius, Cheap Sandwiches won’t be forgotten by those that saw him race. He wore his heart on his sleeve and we look forward to seeing some small sandwiches hitting the track in the future. Best of luck in your retirement champ. It was a pleasure.
LEGACY – WORTH A VIEWING
Those who wish to relive the Derby story of Cheap Sandwiches can do so by watching back Legacy – the 2025 Derby story.
The link is: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhIDozTrE5We4WUupYWTH5g-dKISdC_Tk&si=uY1WIxTBHDpZgJA7