Post by SALFORD GIRL on Aug 8, 2020 14:13:57 GMT
The first round takes place on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th August
Can't wait for our Irish Derby draw, noon Monday!
BY SARAH KINSELA
2020 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby Blog
Our 2020 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby is just a week away and although things will be very different this year, you can guarantee that greyhound enthusiasts will be living for the next six weeks of top-class action. But who will be crowned the 2020 champion?
We announced their official sponsorship of the 2020 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park on Monday bringing BoyleSports’ association with the race to its seventh year in a row. A jaw-dropping amount of €255,460 is the total prize fund, this is marvellous considering prize money across the globe has had to undergo massive reductions.
John Boyle is a tremendous ambassador for this sport and what a fairy-tale story it would have been had his dog BoyleSports King landed the title last year. It was one of the best finishes I have ever seen in a Derby final.
Last year’s event was won by Lenson Bocko for trainer Graham Holland and the Lochead-Ponder-Whelan syndicate, who took home the €140,000 winning prize in a time of 29.40sec. Lenson Bocko was subsequently named ‘Dog of the Year’ at the 2019 National Greyhound Awards.
Market Leaders:
The early market with BoyleSports has Lenson Bocko as the 8/1 favourite while his brilliant kennel mate Newinn Taylor is the 10-1 second favourite, trimmed from 12s following his excellent victory in Clonmel last Sunday to win the Produce Stakes. Newinn Taylor remains unbeaten with 12 wins from 12, an incredible record and an outstanding training performance from Graham who boasts a terrific kennel of stars heading into this year’s Classic Newinn Taylor will be bringing extra excitement coming into this year’s event and I hope he can remain unbeaten, what a story that would be.
Can Lenson Bocko win back-to-back titles for Graham? Something that hasn’t been done since 1955 when Spanish Battlefield won not only his second title but his third Derby trophy. What about Liam Dowling, David Murray, Patrick Guilfoyle, Owen McKenna, Thomas Buggy, John A. Linehan, Robert Gleeson, Karol Ramsbottom, Paul Hennessy, Mark O’Donovan, Marie Gilbert or Kieran Lynch? The Derby is the dream but who’s dream will become a reality?
May Kearns, What a Woman!
This is the beauty of our sport, anything can happen. May Kearns, who has been attending Shelbourne Park longer than most of you reading this blog, could win her first Derby title. What May has given to the industry over 70 or more years is something that we can only hope to continue for many years to come and it would be amazing if she was to win it this year with her consistent and brilliant Beechview Cognac who is 50/1.
The BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby this year will not be as we know it. We have to wear masks, we have to keep our distance, we can’t hug each other when we win a race and we can’t have thousands of greyhound fans flock through Shelbourne Park’s doors to fill the stands and cheer home their favourite greyhound.
Stop with the Negativity
Now is not the time for self-loathing, for negativity, for feeling sorry for yourself. It’s going to be hard for thousands of people that won’t be allowed attend the Derby this year but myself, BoyleSports and the Irish Greyhound Board will do everything we can to make sure we bring the action to all of you watching from home on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. SIS will be showing all the heats along with RPGTV who will have it live from the third round. Now is the time to stay safe, respect the rules and realise how blessed and lucky we are that we can race our dogs and attend our local tracks.
Other industries can look at ours and admire our ambition, dedication and, above all, passion. Everyone played their part to get the industry up and running, an industry that most people would have thought would be last to come back. We are a resilient bunch so rather than complaining about the current restrictions, be thankful that we have any restrictions in the first place. We are racing safely, that will remain the priority. This is a hard time for everyone and we are all trying to adapt for a new way of life and a new way at the dogs, including the staff so be kind.
Well done Shelbourne Park
Shelbourne Park has outdone itself with the measures taken to ensure their restaurant can open. I’m lucky enough to be in a position where I can promote the industry and attending HQ over the last six weeks or so has really gotten me through these strange few months. I missed the racing so much, I got used to not going to pubs or shopping centres, that was the easy part, the hard part was not being able to head into Shelbourne Park. It’s a part of who I am, it’s what I love, it’s what I know, and my Derby dream is still alive, COVID-19 or not! I hope yours is too.
Derby Draw
The draw for the Derby takes place in Shelbourne Park this Monday August 10th from noon, there will just be a handful of us there to carry out the draw, but it will be streamed live so the link is here: bit.ly/3fEYga8
No Tickets, Get onto the Waiting List
The IGB Sales team are currently operating a wait list for Derby customers and once they have received further confirmation on the numbers, they will offer these customers the opportunity to purchase a ticket based on their place in the list. Give the Sales team a call via www.igb.ie
I will be back with more content after the draw where we can take a look at some of the most competitive heats and I will cover the prices in more detail. I hope to see some of you there for the opening heats on August 14th. I know it’s going to be really hard for most of you who can’t attend with the COVID-19 restrictions but as I mentioned, I will do everything I can to bring the action to you at home. Stay safe and enjoy the 2020 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby.
Key event dates:
First Round – Friday, August 14th & Saturday, August 15th
Second Round – Friday, August 21st & Saturday, August 22nd
Third Round – Saturday, August 29th
Quarter Finals – Saturday, September 5th
Semi Finals – Saturday, September 12th
Final – Saturday, September 19th
BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby 2020 Outright
8 Lenson Bocko
10 Newinn Taylor
14 Ballymac Cooper
14 Newinn Session
14 Ballymac Inspeed
16 Da Bold Eagle
16 Black Parachute
16 Toolmaker Sydney
16 Glengar Bale
20 Ballydoyle Valor
20 Ballymac Wild
20 Pestana
20 Outnumbered
20 Ballyhimikin Jet
25 Doolin Duke
25 Lemon Ozzy
25 Rathcoole Fox
33 Wolfe
33 Jaytee Taylor
33 Ballymac Kingdom
33 Broadstrand Bono
33 Ballymac Anton
33 Oran Don
33 Deerjet Sydney
33 Patterdale Greg
33 Run Happy
33 Ballymac Petsy
33 Laughil Josh
33 Jaytee Japan
33 Newline Cody
40 Sevenheads Rock
40 Rannoch Moor
40 Lemon Boris
40 Buttsys Bengal
40 Catchmeflying
40 Ballymac Arminta
40 Droopys Curio
40 Lenson Austin
40 Mustang Firmino
40 Malachi
40 Brinkleys Kid
40 Doolin Princess
50 Ripley Lad
50 Beechview Cognac
50 Congress Thunder
50 Kilara Icon
50 Roanna Bess
50 Ballyhooly Cian
50 Realt Rabach
50 Antigua Boy
50 Unlock Unlock
50 Priceless Blake
50 Grangeview Ten
50 Scooby Princess
50 Redzer Ardfert
50 Indesatchel
50 Epic Hero
50 Jacks Solution
50 Doolin Prince
50 Deadly Missile
66 Thunder Blue
66 Magical Buddy
66 BoyleSports Xtra
66 Cabra Firmino
66 Glenlara Ace
66 Priceless Jet
66 Droopys Wyatt
66 Calzaghe Sonic
66 Bhoireann
66 Battle Cry
66 Muckinish
66 Toolmaker Me Dad
66 Toolmaker Daddy
66 Clona Blaze
66 Soldier Spy
66 Magical Cormie
66 Uncle Bertie
100 Ropewalk Bhoy
100 Rockburst Mike
100 Fainne Chiarrai
100 Priceless Squire
100 Vigorous Luke
100 Vigorous Scooby
100 Benman
100 Great Eastern
100 Worseforwear
100 Newinn Lester
100 Catunda Logan
100 BoyleSportsBingo
100 Newline Darn Hot
100 Costa Plenti
100 Towstar Paddy
200 Super Vic
200 Knockboy Jet
500 Lotus Raider
500 Lotus Percy