54 greyhounds started one week ago; now, just 36 remain in pursuit of one of Ireland’s most coveted prizes, the BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup. 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. This year’s competition began on Saturday, July 18, with second-round heats coming up on Saturday, July 25.
Six heats will take place this weekend, with the first four home in each contest qualifying for the quarter-finals on Saturday, August 1.
First Round Recap
Magical Luka produced the quickest time in the opening round, clocking the fastest run on home soil after returning from Central Park, where he reached the semi-final stage of the Arc Silver Salver. Two other greyhounds also broke the 21-second barrier, with Tiermana Dream and The Other Aari impressing with their performances.
The Other Aari handed Crafty Coolio his first career defeat, ending a run of four straight victories to begin his career. The setback may prove valuable experience for Crafty Coolio, who could have learned more from that race than from any of his previous wins. It will be fascinating to see how he responds in the second round when he renews rivalry with the same opponent.
BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup 2026 Second-Round Draw
The draw for round two of the BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup 2026 can be viewed below. Note there are two seeding changes, with Robbies Flyer (heat 3) now INSIDE seeded and The Other Aari (heat five) now MIDDLE seeded.
BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup FAQs
What is the BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup?
The BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup is one of Ireland’s premier greyhound sprint competitions, showcasing some of the fastest 400-yard specialists in the country. The competition attracts leading trainers and greyhounds from across Ireland and is regarded as a major event on the sprint racing calendar.
Where is the BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup held?
The BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup is held at Dundalk Stadium, Ireland’s premier all-weather greyhound and horse racing venue.
What distance is the BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup run over?
The competition is contested over 400 yards, testing a greyhound’s early pace, acceleration and ability to maintain speed around the Dundalk circuit.
When is the BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup final?
The final date for the 2026 BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup will be held on Saturday, August 15 at Dundalk Stadium. The Sprint Cup Final will headline an evening of live greyhound racing, with live horse racing earlier in the day as part of a family funday at Dundalk Stadium.
Keep an eye on the BAR 1 Betting social channels for ticket giveaways.
BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup Schedule 2026
- 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 – Sat 25th July
36 dogs with first 4 qualifying - 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 – Sat 1st August
24 dogs with 12 qualifying - 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 – Sat 8th August
Semi-Finals - 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 – Sat 15th August
Who are the favourites for the BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup?
Magical Luka started the competition as the outright favourite and has safely progressed to round two.
BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup odds
Visit your nearest BAR 1 Betting shop for the latest outright prices. Find your nearest shop using our shop locator.
