The 2020 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September, with the final being held on 19 September at Shelbourne Park. The competition was sponsored by BoyleSports and the prize money purse was €255,460, of which €115,000 went to the winner.
The winner was Newinn Taylor, a May 2018 whelp trained by Graham Holland. Owned by Simon Taylor and bred by Jim O'Donnell the black dog recorded his 16th victory from 18 starts in the final.
The defending champion Lenson Bocko, winner of the 2019 Irish Greyhound Derby and Ballymac Inspeed were the early ante-post favourites at 8-1. These were followed by Produce Champion Newinn Taylor, Glengar Bale, Da Bold Eagle and Black Parachute. For the second year running there were no entries from England but this year it was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other major entries included 2019 English Greyhound Derby champion Priceless Blake, Easter Cup champion Wolfe, Corn Cuchulainn winner Ballymac Kingdom, Champion Stakes winner Pestana, Gold Cup & Leger champion Ballymac Anton, Ballymac Cooper, Lenson Blinder and Skywalker Logan.
Final result
At Shelbourne Park (over 550 yards):
Distances
½, 2, neck, 8½, DNF (0.07 sec = one length)
Quarter finals
Semi finals
Competition report
Before the first round got underway there was a disappointing withdrawal when English Derby champion Priceless Blake was declared a non runner and Ballymac Inspeed was sold to England. With 96 greyhounds qualifying for the second round only the fifth and sixth-placed greyhounds would be eliminated but Lenson Blinder, Doolin Duke and Black Parachute were notable names that fell into that category. The fastest honour went to the in-form Pestana in a time of 29.21 sec, on 14 August and defending champion Lenson Bocko and Produce champion Newinn Taylor (previously unbeaten) both progressed despite third place finishes.
The second round produced some intriguing results and highlighted the claims of several previously unmentioned greyhounds. Epic Hero set a great time of 29.19 in sealing heat 8, a time only bettered by one of the ante post favourites Glengar Bale who impressed with a 29.15 heat win. Newinn Sheedy and Catunda Logan also looked in great shape with fast wins. Ballymac Kingdom and Redzer Ardfert were both eliminated. The second set of second round heats on 22 August, contained most of the big names and started with a sensational track record win from the Derby favourite Pestana. The blue brindle became the first greyhound in the history of Shelbourne Park to break 29 seconds over 550 yards with a 28.99 run beating Newinn Taylor by 3½ lengths. Two big names safely through became four after Ballymac Anton defeated Wolfe in the next heat and this was followed by a double Ballymac success when Ballymac Wild and Ballymac Cooper both blitzed round in 29.15 and 29.10 respectively. The night finished with a win for Boylesports Xtra and a second place for Lenson Bocko behind Feudal Spirit.
The third round was run on the 29 August and the big shock of the night was the elimination of defending champion Lenson Bocko after he was involved in a troubled race. The champion's campaign never really got of the ground with 3rd, 2nd and 4th place finishes. Newinn Taylor continued to improve over the distance and went fastest in 29.11 even beating the heat win by Pestana (29.15). The pair were now clear of all others in the betting market. Other surprise eliminations included Wolfe, Ballymac Anton and Epic Hero in a heat that resembled a final and Catunda Logan. The best of the rest was Ballymac Wild (29.31).
The quarter finals started with one of the weaker heats but ended with another win for Ballymac Wild, the blue brindle dog posted a fast 29.07 to remain unbeaten and now looked like a serious contender. Heat 2 went to outsider Kilara Icon from favourite Glengar Bale with Newinn Sheedy eliminated. Pestana impressed again, also recording 29.07 and beating Balymac Cooper. The final and strongest heat went to the other big favourite Newinn Taylor from Boylesports Xtra in 29.19.
The semi finals now contained three clear favourites in Pestana, Newinn Taylor and Ballymac Wild. The first ended in the expected order with Newinn Taylor impressing again in 29.12 from Ballymac Cooper. Meenagh Miracle took the remaining qualifying berth for the final despite failing to win any heat throughout the competition. In the second semi final Pestana won again to reach the final unbeaten with Ballymac Wild running up, Kilara Icon finished third to take the last Derby final place.