The 2026 BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup was launched at Dundalk Stadium on Wednesday afternoon with 54 greyhounds entered into the first-round draw for one of Ireland’s most coveted trophies of the season. Boasting a winning prize of €20,000 and the title of being Ireland’s fastest greyhound, the Sprint Cup’s stature has grown season by season during BAR 1 Betting’s now 22-year-long sponsorship of the event.
Southwind Wild brought home the glory and the winner’s cheque to the Pat Buckley kennel last year, but now it’s all eyes on who will reach the final on August 15 at Dundalk Stadium. The competition gets underway this coming Saturday, July 18, with the first-round heats being held at the Dowdallshill venue.
– View our latest Greyhound markets.
BAR 1 Betting’s Head of Marketing, Aaron Hughes, was on hand to assist with Wednesday’s first-round draw, which has thrown up some cracking opening-round heats. The 2026 BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup first-round draw is as follows:
ROUND 1 HEAT 1
FIRSTPASTTHEPOST (I)
HACKNEY RANDOX (I)
MONTANA SECRET (I)
THE OTHER AARI (I)
HACKNEY BUCK (W)
CRAFTY COOLIO (W)
ROUND 1 HEAT 2
BORN RANGER (I)
MINSTREL ROCKET (I)
TIERMANA HUNTER (I)
KANTURK CLON (I)
THURLESBEG PABLO (M)
MARKFIELD BUCKO (W)
ROUND 1 HEAT 3
RIDGEMOUNT SKY (I)
AMBITIOUS BEAR (I)
CARRIG CARTEL (I)
STONEPARK BROWNIE (I)
HACKNEY DINO (M)
VELVET SAMBA (W)
ROUND 1 HEAT 4
RALLYING BILLY (I)
LOOKING SPLENDID (I)
BALLYMAC ZAK (I)
QUEEN LULU (I)
TIERMANA DREAM (M)
SEVEN SPANISH (W)
ROUND 1 HEAT 5
BAREFOOT ON FIRE (I)
WHINNEY HILL BOY (I)
NINA MIRACLE (I)
BOLTAWAY WINK (I)
ROBBIES FLYER (M)
SHADOW OFTTEROCK (W)
ROUND 1 HEAT 6
DROOPYS SCAMPI (I)
MAGICAL LUKA (I)
YURTY MAGURTY (I)
AAYAMZA DAZZLER (I)
DRUMDOIT CLOVER (M)
EXCLUSION ORDER (W)
ROUND 1 HEAT 7
WOODCLIFF DUKE (I)
ANOTHERCUPFOTEA (I)
DROOPYS APOLLO (I)
STORMY HOOLIGAN (I)
CHARMING CHARLIE (M)
BALLYMAC SHONTAE (W)
ROUND 1 HEAT 8
AAYAMZA JET (I)
CAISLEAN CHAMP (I)
BUDDY BRUNO (I)
THE OTHER WILD (M)
BETWEEN US (M)
EARLY PAYOUT (W)
ROUND 1 HEAT 9
SOUTHWIND STORM (I)
GIZMO MYSTERIO (I)
SOGNA ANCORA (I)
SCHOOL OF ROCK (M)
FASTAWAY ADAM (M)
AWAY BONO (W)
