Irish Greyhound Derby 2020 – Preview, Betting and Tips

The Irish Greyhound Derby 2020 begins on Friday night at Shelbourne Park. Twenty-four heats in total, twelve on each of Friday and Saturday will form the first of six rounds. The final is on Saturday the 19th of September, always one of the best nights of the year.

Irish greyhound Derby Betting

A pair of 12/1 join favourites at the head of the market. The 2019 champ Lenson Bocko (who we tipped in our ante post preview last year at 33/1) and the new kid on the block, Newinn Taylor who is unbeaten through the first twelve starts of his career. Deadly Missile and Pestana have jumped towards the head of the market with recent flying efforts with Newinn Session, Ballymac Cooper and Toolmaker Sydney the only othersat less than 20/1.

Irish Greyhound Derby Tips

Da Bold Eagle – 25/1

Six wins and a third in seven races, his only defeat came at the hands of Toolmaker Sydney who has been very well backed for this competition. He has smart early pace and that potent weapon should be very valuable to him through the rounds.

He moved off down the back straight on that occasion and let the winner though, as he gains experience he should keep a tighter line and make it more difficult for anything to get past him.

Ballymac Anton – 33/1

Will be a veteran in November but he is still performing at the top of this game. He has not finished out of the first three in his last twenty races which bodes well going into a competition of this stature.

A strong stayer at this trip and already twice a big race finalist at this track in 2020, he is very much the type who will keep doing enough to continue qualifying.

Unlock Unlock – 50/1

An inexperienced bitch but she announced herself back in March with a pair of flying wins in a Newbridge unraced competition. The runner-up to her last time has won all 3 starts since to at least suggest it’s very smart form.

She caught the eye two starts back here, walking out but showing immense middle pace to get back on the tails of the leaders. She is yet to learn to run the first bend but that will improve as she goes through the competition.

Kilara Icon – 150/1

An outsider here but one who has the ability to play a role if he can find some consistency. He made the final of a puppy competition here at the back end of 2019, fourth to Newinn Taylor who heads the market here.

He found all sorts of trouble when exiting the Produce Stakes at the semi-final stage but this slightly longer trip should help him as a strong running type. He’ll need to be on the top of his game but he’s overpriced on the best of his efforts.