THE 2008 BLUE SQUARE GREYHOUND DERBY RESULT

1st: Loyal Honcho 5/2J
well away, drew clear first

2nd: Tyrur Kieran 11/4
early pace, checked and bumped first, kept on

3rd: Blonde Dino 10/1
slow away, forced wide first, ran on

4th: Tyrur Laurel 5/2J
checked wide and badly bumped first

5th: Kryptonite 4/1
wide and baulked start, early pace, bumped first and second

6th: Lenson Express 20/1
slow away and baulked start, bumped and fell second

Winning Time: 28.60secs
Winning trainer: Seamus Graham (Ireland)
Winning owner: Noel Ryan
Bred by: Terence Gollogly

Semi-Finals – Saturday 24th May

The semi-finals stage is always a cruel one to get knocked out in but only six dogs can progress to the final, as Barnfield On Air found out in the second semi-final of the evening.

Tyrur Laurel ran out the convincing winner in front of Kryptonite and Lenson Express, which meant that Toosey Blue, Express Ego and Droopys Obafemi were all eliminated at this vital stage. Paul Hennessy’s dog has got the knack of winning and could prove to be hard to beat in the final.

The second semi-final also went to the Irish as Loyal Honcho took the race in impressive style, running out the three and a quarter length winner from Blonde Dino and Tyrur Kieran. This meant Commander Chief, Seanis Lad and the luckless Barnfield On Air were all eliminated, with the latter having a desperate passage throughout the race.

Quarter-Finals – Tuesday 20th May

The quarter-finals come just three days after the third round and the gruelling schedule can take its toll on some of the competitors.

The first quarter saw Tyrur Laurel continue to impress with a length victory over Barnfield On Air and Blonde Dino. Barnfield On Air ran a blinder in second, having battled to try and reach Laurel up the back straight and almost diving inside him at the third bend. BOA was actually in danger of going out as he was checked going into the fourth bend but bravely ran on into second and was probably closing as they reached the line.

Loyal Honcho took the second quarter-final in grand style. His pace going into (and out of) the second bend effectively won him the race and he was probably value for more than the official distance of two and a quarter lengths. Lenson Express and Droopys Obafemi ran on in second and third respectively to deny the more fancied Melodys Pat a place in the semis.

The third quarter saw hot favourite Tyrur Kieran beaten at 1/2 by the strong-running Toosey Blue, with Commander Chief denying Bubbly Totti back in third. John Mullins’ dog actually trapped better than Kieran and was always in a strong position afterwards, as he ran on for a three-quarter of a length victory.

The last quarter-final of the night saw Kryptonite show incredible early pace to lead at the first bend which was enough to see him home at the expense of Seanis Lad and Express Ego. Rio Quando was the disappointment of the race, having been slowly away and encountering trouble after.

Third Round – Saturday 17th May

The third round is usually when the men get separated from the boys and this year was no exception. Tyrur Kieran posted another good performance when accounting for Rio Quando, whilst last year’s finalist Loyal Honcho scraped into the quarter-finals after finishing third behind Seanis Lad and Kilkenny Lonjack.

Tyrur Laurel showed that he was a dog to follow in beating Commander Chief and Toosey Blue, whilst Lenson Joker took heat 4 from the consistent Splanc and Droopys Obafemi.

Farloe Reason was the big casualty of the evening, going out in the ‘heat of death’ behind eventual winner Melodys Pat, Express Ego and Barnfield Slippy. There was no real excuse for Charlie Lister’s dog, who was beaten in a very competitive heat.

Bubbly Totti and Boherna On Air had a cracking duel up the back straight in heat 6, with the former just shading it by three quarters of a length, whilst the finish of the evening came in heat 7, where two necks separated Barnfield Woody, Love Mac and Dilemmas Flight.

Blonde Dino upset some of the more fancied runners in the final heat of the third round, when he defied odds of 16/1 to beat Kryptonite and Barnfield On Air in a race which saw last year’s finalist Ullid Conor eliminated.

Second Round – Fri 9th & Sat 10th

The second round kicked off with what many thought would be the race of the round and it didn’t disappoint. Barnfield On Air - unfavourably drawn in trap one as many thought – took on Farloe Reason, whose trainer Charlie Lister endured a horrible drive down to Wimbledon after various traffic problems on the motorway. As it was, Farloe Reason didn’t disappoint but just happened to come up against a superb performance from ‘Barney’, who flew out of the traps and showed real spirit to repel a challenge from Lister’s dog down the back straight. The second heat saw the demise of Westmead Lord, who didn’t trap particularly well but had managed to make his way into second when clipping the heels of eventual winner Express Ego at the first bend, which essentially put paid to his chances. The times had been respectable all evening but nothing had really set the clock alight until heat 7, where Love Tiger burst out of the traps and hit the ground running, having the race won by the first bend and clocking an astonishing time of 28.29, just a length or so off the track record.

Saturday saw last season’s runner-up Loyal Honcho burst back onto the scene and Seamus Graham’s dog spread-eagled his rivals by four and a half lengths in heat 11. He burst out of the traps and ran the track really well, showing the Wimbledon crowd just what a good dog he is when on song.

The biggest roar on Saturday night came when Bubbly Totti defied a slow start to weave his way through the field and win a shade cosily. Champagne Club syndicate owner Steve Fluin said his heart almost stopped as he saw his dog go for the gap at the third bend but he showed that he has a brain as well as talent to cut back for the inside before powering away up the straight for a one and a quarter length victory.

First Round – Fri 2nd & Sat 3rd May

The Blue Square Greyhound Derby started with a bang and there were shocks aplenty right from the start of the competition. Heat 7 was to provide the upset of the night as Racing Post Juvenile champion Ballymac Under, the 4/5 favourite, was sensationally knocked out. It didn’t prove to be a good night for the Matt Dartnell kennel as he also had the promising Attykitt Admiral knocked out as well in heat 6. Barnfield On Air produced probably the best performance of the night, easily justifying odds of 4/6 so beat Lenson Joker by three quarters of a length. ‘Barney’ had been friendless in the ante-post market prior to this but he showed his Scottish Derby running to be all wrong. Catunda Harry produced a decent performance to become one of the favourites after this round whilst the final heat of the night also produced a shock as Charlie Lister’s Rossacredibility, quietly fancied as a potential Derby winner in some quarters, was knocked out in a heat that went to the well-backed Commander Chief. Saturday provided the closest finish of the round as Droopys Maestro needed all of the 480m to collar Carlsberg Flash and to the naked eye, it looked as if trap four had held on. However, the photo proved otherwise and favourite backers breathed a huge sigh of relief. Kryptonite took heat 17 after he was quickly away but Tyrur Laurel was equally impressive after finding trouble and the pace he showed of the second bend was particularly eye catching. The final heat of the round saw former ante-post favourite Tyrur Kieran regain his position at the head of the market with a smooth success from an unfavourable draw in three.

Blue Square and the ABB have teamed up to run the Greyhound Derby Media Tipping Challenge for this year and Blue Square have priced up a market on who they think will top the table at the end of the competition.

Understandably, the Racing Post’s Richard Birch is the red-hot 10/1 favourite for the competition, having been already backed down from 14/1, with John Benbow of the Daily Mirror, Darrell Williams of SIS and Muttley of the Racing Post just behind at 16/1. It has all the hallmarks of being a hot competition, with several shrewd judges in the field and as well as a total prize pool of £1700 in free bets being on offer, professional pride is also at stake.

The leaderboard will be updated after each round and will be posted on this page.

Richard Birch (Racing Post) - 10/1
Darrell Williams (SIS) - 16/1
Admiral Benbow (Daily Mirror) - 16/1
Muttley (Racing Post) - 16/1
Jim Austin (Racing Post) - 20/1
John Johnson (BAGS) - 20/1
Jonathan Kay (Racing Post – Open Check) - 20/1
Floyd Amphlett (Greyhound Star) - 20/1
Richard Thomas (Blue Square) - 20/1
Rodney Eales (Blue Square) - 20/1
Michael Fortune (Racing Post – Irish View) - 20/1
Phil Donaldson (Racing Post) - 20/1
Errol Blyth (SIS) - 20/1
Dave Johnston (PA) - 20/1
Bob Betts (The Sun) - 20/1
Tanya Stevenson (Sky Sports) - 20/1
Andy Smith (Racing Post – Topspeed) - 20/1
John McCririck (C4) - 20/1
Tony Ennis (SIS) - 20/1
Dave Smith (Sky Sports) - 20/1
Jonathan Hobbs (Racing Post) - 20/1
Top Dog (BGRB) - 25/1
Clive Lawrence (Sky Sports) - 25/1
John Forbes (Racing Post – Around The North) - 25/1
Gary Wiltshire (Sky Sports) - 25/1
Barry Faulkner (ABB) - 25/1
Gary Newbon (Sky Sports) - 28/1
George Primarolo (Blue Square) - 33/1

¼ 1-2-3-4

There have been 140 entries for this year’s Blue Square Greyhound Derby and whilst it’s slightly surprising that there have been a significant drop from the 192 that entered last year, it’s the quality that counts and there’s no doubt that this year’s renewal has it in spades.

All of the main contenders from this country have been entered – including both Ballymac Under and Barnfield On Air – as well as 18 from Ireland, which include Scottish Derby winner Tyrur Kieran.

There are currently four co-favourites of four at 14/1 with Blue Square (Rossacredibility, Tyrur Kieran, Farloe Reason & Ballymac Under) whilst the sponsors are also betting ¼ 1-2-3-4-5 on all each-way bets until the first round.

For the full first round draw up please CLICK HERE

A MILLION MAID, ADVANTAGE JOHNNY, ANNUAL SCHOLES, ATTYKITT ADMIRAL, AVON SCHOLES, BABY BLAZE, BALLYGARRON ASH, BALLYGARRON HOPE, BALLYMAC RUSO, BALLYMAC UNDER, BARAN PEDRO, BARNFIELD LEO, BARNFIELD MIKE, BARNFIELD ON AIR, BARNFIELD SLIPPY, BARNFIELD WOODY, BENS COURT, BLACK ICE BOSS, BLACKSTONE CHAMP, BLAZEAWAY MAJOR, BLITZ, BLONDE BUSTER, BLONDE DINO, BLONDE JEANIE, BLUE JOCKEY, BLUE SCHMU, BOHERASH PATRIOT, BOHERNA ON AIR, BRICKFIELD CLASS, BROADWAY SPARK, BUBBLY TOTTI, CALZAGHE TED, CAPTAIN SOLO, CARLSBERG FLASH, CASINO VALENTINE, CASTLEMARY PODGE. CATS WHISKERS, CATUNDA HARRY, CLOUNTS FELIX, COMMANDER CHIEF, CYCLERS LARK, DILEMMAS FLIGHT, DROOPYS BILLY, DROOPYS CURBS, DROOPYS KIOWA, DROOPYS MAESTRO, DROOPYS NORMAN, DROOPYS OBEFEMI, DROOPYS TOBEY, DROOPYS WELLS, EDWARDS SOLID, EXPRESS EGO, EYE ONTHE FORCE, EYE ONTHE VETO, FABULOUS AZURE, FARLEY LEGEND, FARLOE BATMAN, FARLOE BLACK, FARLOE NIALL, FARLOE REASON, FARLOE SUPERMAN, FINE MOMENT, FOREST GUMP, FOREST SCHOLES, GETMEADOCTOR, GRANITE HILL, HACKNEY CARRIAGE, HOLYROMANEMPORER, HULK HOGAN, HYPATIA BLUE, KILKENNY LONJACK, KNOCKANE LARK, KRYPTONITE, LENSON EXPRESS, LENSON JOKER, LETHAL FRANKIE, LETHAL FREDDIE, LISLABIN RAMBO, LOCKDALE DIAMOND, LOVE MAC, LOVE TIGER, LOWGATE THEO, LOYAL HONCHO, MACHU PICCHU, MADGES MILLIONS, MALBAY RONALDO, MANCINI, MARSHMAN, MELODYS PAT, MILLIONS GIRL, MISSED A TRAIN, MONIS PET, MOVE ON KEWELL, MUSICAL JACK, MUSTANG GARCIA, MYSTICAL HAKA, NINJA JAMIE, NOIRS WILD, PEA BALL, PENNYS FLEETFOOT, PIGALLE LADY, PLOUGH LANE, PODGES DILEMMA, RIO QUANDO, ROCKBURST MASON, ROCKY ROCKET, ROMEO MALDINI, ROMEO PRIMO, ROMEO TURBO, RONALDOS MERIT, RONNIES HUSTLE, ROQUEFORT ADDSON, ROSSACREDIBILTY, SCINTILLAS RUBY, SEANIS LAD, SEANIS STRIKE, SHANACASHEL LAD, SHEEPWALK BANN, SIDE LEG, SPEARS TARQUYNN, SPLANC, SWIFT N SMART, TALKING MAN, TEMPLE LAD, TOOSEY BLUE, TOOSEY TOPS, TRAINED ASSASSIN, TYRUR JAY, TYRUR KIERAN, TYRUR LAUREL, TYRUR RHINO, TYRUR ROCKY, ULLID CONOR, UNIQUE OPTION, UNIQUE PICTURE, VANGELIS, WESTMEAD KEAWN, WESTMEAD LORD, YAHOO COMMANDER, YOULLHAVETOGO (140)

14 Rossacredibility, Tyrur Kieran, Farloe Reason, Ballymac Under, 16 Catunda Harry, Ninja Jamie, Westmead Lord, 20 Tyrur Rhino, Tyrur Laurel, Barnfield On Air, 25 Blue Jockey, Kryptonite, Romeo Maldini, 33 Melodys Pat, Rio Quando, Advantage Johnny, Ballymac Ruso, Loyal Honcho, 40 bar.

1/4 1-2-3-4-5

Blue Square Derby launched in style!.

The 2008 Blue Square Greyhound Derby was launched in grand style at the London Victoria Grosvenor Casino in front of assembled media and guests of honour on Friday afternoon.

Gary Newbon, John McCririck and Sid Waddell were all present as the 2008 renewal of the Derby was given an official launch in front of GWA members.

The race will once again be worth £100,000 to the winner and promises to be one of the most open in the competition’s history. With this in mind, Blue Square have gone 14/1 the field, with Rossacredibility, Tyrur Kieran, Farloe Reason and Ballymac Under all heading the market as it stands.

Waddell will be taking part in a ‘job swap’during the Greyhound Derby, which will see him commentate on a race on quarter-final night after spending an afternoon with commentator Errol Blyth in the SIS studios.

‘Sid is famed for his off-the-wall commentaries so we can’t wait to see what he’ll come up with on quarter-final night,’ said Blue Square spokesman George Primarolo.‘Wayne Mardle will also be appearing at Wimbledon on the 20th so there will be a strong darts link that night and we’re hoping that this can convert a few ‘arrers’ fans to the world of greyhound racing.’

Blue Square Greyhound Derby – sponsors bet: 14 Rossacredibility, Tyrur Kieran, Farloe Reason, Ballymac Under, 16 Westmead Lord, Catunda Harry, 20 Tyrur Laurel, Ninja Jamie, Barnfield On Air, Tyrur Rhino, 25 Kryptonite, Blue Jockey, 33 Melody’s Pat, Loyal Honcho, Ballymac Ruso, Rio Quando, Farloe Black, Droopys Robinho, College Causeway, 40 bar.

¼ 1-2-3-4-5

Derby market wide open after Barney and Ballymac beaten.

Both Ballymac Under and Barnfield On Air have been eased in the betting for the Blue Square Greyhound Derby after both were beaten on Thursday evening.

Ballymac Under was sensationally knocked out in the heats of the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby at Monmore after being checked and baulked at the first bend, whilst Barnfield On Air was beaten at Hove in the Nevill Road Standard over 515 after missing the break.

Consequently, Ballymac Under is still the favourite but has been eased a point to 8/1 (from 7) whilst Barnfield On Air is now a 10/1 shot (from 8/1) following his Hove defeat.

'‘Both Barnfield On Air and Ballymac Under supporters came back down to earth with a bump on Thursday evening and hence the Derby market has more of an open look to it now,’ said Blue Square spokesman George Primarolo.

‘Both dogs were probably artificially short in the market anyway following impressive successes recently but Thursday night has shown us that the Derby is more than just a two-dog race this season and there’s plenty more racing to be done between now and the first round at the beginning of May’.

Ninja Jamie is next in the market at 14/1, with Loyal Honcho, Farloe Reason and Tyrur Rhino all at 20/1.

Blue Square Greyhound Derby – sponsors bet: 8 (from 7) Ballymac Under, 10 (from 8) Barnfield On Air, 14 Ninja Jamie, 20 Loyal Honcho, Farloe Reason, Tyrur Rhino, 25 Westmead Lord, 33 Burnpark Champ, Skywalker Ace, Ardmayle Champ, 40 Boherna On Air, Rio Quando, Blonde Dino, Westmead Keawn, 50 bar.

1/4 1-2-3-4-5

Ballymac on Cloud Nine after Juvenile success.

Ballymac Under was cut to 6/1 favourite (from 7) for the Blue Square Greyhound Derby with the sponsors after an impressive victory in the Racing Post Juvenile at Wimbledon on Tuesday night.

Matt Dartnell's dog missed the break from trap 3 and had to do things the hard way as the two Farloe dogs – Reason and Hurricane – led but Derby favourite showed impressive middle pace running into the third bend to put the race to bed.

'The Racing Post Juvenile turned into Ballymac Under's first real test after he missed the break but he came through it with flying colours and it was ultimately a more impressive performance than when winning the Birmingham Cup,' said Blue Square spokesman George Primarolo.

'The longer he goes unbeaten, the more punters are going to latch onto him so it wouldn't be a total surprise to see his price contract further before his next outing.'

Elsewhere on the Wimbledon card, the well-touted Ninja Jamie ran out the winner of the top division of the puppy open over 460 metres, forcing Blue Square to cut him into 20/1 (from 33) for the Derby.

Blue Square Greyhound Derby – sponsors bet: 6 (from 7) Ballymac Under, 8 Barnfield On Air, 16 Farloe Reason, 20 (from 33) Ninja Jamie, 25 Westmead Lord, 33 Loyal Honcho, Farloe Hurricane, Tyrur Rhino, Skywalker Ace, 40 Blonde Dino, Rio Quando, Westmead Keawn, Boherna On Air, 50 Ardmayle Champ, Catunda Harry, Plough Lane, Killough Tale, Highbury Lao, Blackstone Gene, 66 bar.

1/4 1-2-3-4-5