The 2008 Blue Square Greyhound Derby took place during May with the final held on 31 May 2008 at Wimbledon Stadium. The winner Loyal Honcho received £100,000.
Final result At Wimbledon (over 480 metres): PositionName of GreyhoundBreedingTrapSectionalSPTimeTrainer1stLoyal HonchoTop Honcho – Midway Crystal44.855-2jf28.60Seamus Graham (Ireland)2ndTyrur KieranHoncho Classic – Tyrur Dee34.9011-428.88Paul Hennessy (Ireland)3rdBlonde DinoDaves Mentor – Charquest64.9210-129.00John Mullins (Yarmouth) 4thTyrur LaurelTop Honcho – Tyrur Fiona54.935-2jf29.45Paul Hennessy (Ireland)5thKryptoniteTop Honcho – Three Star Girl14.924-129.58Charlie Lister (Private)6thLenson ExpressTop Honcho – Gold Seacrest25.0720-100.00Tony Collett (Sittingbourne)
Distances 3½, 1½, 5½, 1¾, Dis (lengths) The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. One length is equal to 0.08 of one second.
Race Report It took five rounds of action to narrow down the field to the final six greyhounds that would for the final of the competition race over 480 m in a chance to win the 2008 English Greyhound Derby. After finishing second to Westmead Lord in 2007, Loyal Honcho won the 2008 title in his second attempt, dominating the final. Seamus Graham's runner, who was sent as the 5–2 joint-favourite along with fellow Irish raider Tyrur Laurel, took control of the race from the traps and pulled clear to beat Tyrur Kieran (11–4) and winner of the Scottish Greyhound Derby, by three and a half lengths in a respectable 28.60 sec (480 metres). A messy race saw five of the six contenders encounter trouble with Lenson Express falling and finishing last.
It was the first Irish trained success in the Derby since Ian Reilly's Droopys Scholes took the honours in 2004.
Quarter finals
Heat 1 (20 May)PosName SP Time 1st Tyrur Laurel 9-2 28.672nd Barnfield On Air 6-4f 28.763rd Blonde Dino 11-4 28.814th Boherna On Air 7-2 28.885th Cats Whiskers 50-1 29.066th Splanc 12-1 29.17
Heat 2 (20 May)PosName SP Time 1st Loyal Honcho 3-1 28.832nd Lenson Express 25-1 29.023rd Droopys Obafemi 6-1 29.064th Lenson Joker 8-1 29.175th Melodys Pat 7-4f 29.306th Barnfield Woody 7-2 00.00
Heat 3 (20 May)PosName SP Time 1st Toosey Blue 4-1 28.632nd Tyrur Kieran 1-2f 28.693rd Salacres Chief 25-1 28.754th Bubbly Totti 7-1 28.775th Kilkenny Lonjack 12-1 28.786th Barnfield Slippy 12-1 28.95
Heat 4 (20 May)PosName SP Time 1st Kryptonite 6-4f 28.802nd Seanis Lad 16-1 28.943rd Express Ego 5-2 28.954th Dilemmas Flight 5-1 29.085th Love Mac 20-1 29.096th Rio Quando 11-4 29.10
Semi finals
First Semi Final (24 May)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trainer1st Tyrur Laurel 4-1 28.55 Hennessy2nd Kryptonite 7-4jf 28.63 Lister3rd Lenson Express 33-1 28.64 Collett4th Toosey Blue 7-4jf 28.71 Mullins5th Express Ego 8-1 28.76 McKenna6th Droopys Obafemi 7-1 29.07 Grey
Second Semi Final (24 May)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trainer1st Loyal Honcho 4-1 28.77 Graham2nd Blonde Dino 6-1 28.90 Mullins3rd Tyrur Kieran 1-1f 28.97 Hennessy4th Salacres Chief 20-1 28.98 Harnden5th Barnfield On Air 5-2 29.08 Poots6th Seanis Lad 20-1 29.15 Jones
See also 2008 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
References
Results Results and video of the race
External links British Greyhound Racing Board Greyhound Data