Derby contender, Bockos, officially pulled out of the race

Bockos Diamond Withdraws from Irish Derby Due to Injury

In a disappointing turn of events, the current BoyleSports Irish Derby champion and ante-post favourite, Bockos Diamond, has been withdrawn from the competition due to an injury sustained on the gallops at home on Thursday.

Trained by Graham Holland, who also handles the likes of Bombay Pat (the fastest dog in both rounds so far) and Rural Pest, Bockos Diamond had been aiming to defend his crown in this year's Irish Derby. The injury, however, has forced the withdrawal, leaving a vacancy in heat three, where Bockos Diamond was due to meet Proper Heiress, a UK star, and Cheap Sandwiches, another strong contender trained by Holland.

Bockos Diamond's owner, Box, expressed his disappointment about the withdrawal but remains hopeful about the future. He shared that he would be at Shelbourne Park this evening to support Holland's other runners in the Irish Derby. Box also mentioned that he would like to see a few straws taken now and target the Winter Festival with Bockos Diamond, once the injury has healed.

The owners of Bockos Diamond, although disappointed, are optimistic about their dog's recovery. They believe that the injury can be put right, and Bockos Diamond will be fine to race again. The injury led to the trainer informing Shelbourne's racing office that Bockos Diamond would not be participating in the Classic.

Despite the setback, Holland's strong hand in the Irish Derby remains. With Cheap Sandwiches, who finished as the 2024 runner-up, and Rural Pest, Holland still has a good chance at securing the Irish Derby title.

The syndicate of Bockos Diamond has not yet had discussions about targeting the Winter Festival, and their plans for the dog after the injury are yet to be revealed.

Bockos Diamond, a fantastic greyhound who gave Holland, Bev, and Austin their second Irish Derby after Lenson Bocko in 2019, will be missed in this year's competition. The Irish Derby continues tonight without the reigning champion, but the race for the title remains as exciting as ever.