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The Blue Square Greyhound Derby 2008: Who's impressed, who let us down and who could spring a surprise...

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Tyrur Kieran and Toosey Blue have impressed Jonathan Hobbs after the first round of the Derby

Far from sorting the wheat from the chaff, last week's first round of the Greyhound Derby made things more complicated!

The first four home, in some cases first five, meant that few shocks headlined the first weekend.
Rossacredibility and Ballymac Under were the high-profile casualties, the question marks over them in the days leading up to the heats proving spot-on.

Could Rossacredibility make an impact if being led, and was Ballymac Under the same dog that gloriously won the Juvenile?

To be fair to both, they will return soon (maybe even Derby final night), and remain high-class greyhounds.

So to the eye-catchers from the first round.

In terms of the most stunning success, that has to go to Kilkenny Lonjack. Had Tyrur Kieran done such a run I would imagine you'd be looking at 4-1 favourite, and Seamus Cahill's dog proved beyond question that he can step up to the mark from best man to groom! He was good, very good.

Defending champion Westmead Lord lost nothing in defeat in his heat for Nick Savva. Melodys Pat could prove top-notch and what was noticeable was how 'the Lord' stayed on up the home-straight better than he did in the early rounds last year. This weekend will prove whether he still has the necessary speed. I fancy he does.

Toosey Blue was great and (this weekend's horrendous heat notwithstanding) should remain on any short-list.

He is undoubtedly John Mullins' best Derby chance and, if he draws trap six later in the competition, will make it count - and some. Remember, he was the fastest overall of the 23 heats.

Of the Irish contingent, Paul Hennessy's Tyrur Laurel stood out. Yes he was beaten by Charlie Lister's ex-Irish Kryptonite, but he showed awesome pace and no greyhound travelled from bends two to three as well.

The middle seed could be his making, although he no longer in the 'safe haven' of six!
Catunda Harry remains the fastest dog in the event for me. But Owen Mckenna has a battle on his hands to keep him in the competition with his errant trapping, and a move to seed him wide was blocked by the Wimbledon racing manager Gary Matthews. The right decision, but like Tyrur Laurel the safe haven of stripes has been denied him.

Professional is the best word to describe Tyrur Kieran's win. He showed he handled trap three well, is as tight a railer as you will find in the event, and still harbours real hopes of plundering the second leg of greyhound racing's triple crown after his Scottish Derby victory at Shawfield. Difficult to bet against in any heat.

Charlie Lister's challenge remains strong. He lost Rossacredibility but saw Kryptonite rail like a cat with pace up and stamina, but Farloe Reason and Ninja Jamie ran their races and the latter, especially, should continue to improve. Tyrur Rhino trapped finally at Wimbledon, and probably has plenty of scope for improvement.

The Barnfield On Air conundrum remains. Again, his draw this weekend could be crucial, making or breaking the dog's Derby dream, but what he did in the first round was nevertheless impressive. He won well, clocked a fast time and held off strong runners Lenson Joker and Side Leg to the line.

However, the Poots camp are also well represented by the speedy Mustang Garcia (few will lead him up, Carlsberg Flash perhaps) and Barnfield Slippy, and the latter has come from a 200-1 outsider to the edge of the top-bracketed runners. He has pace at both ends and looks another potential finalist.

There is a real sense of anticipation ahead of Friday and Saturday. It is like the third round already (always the best night's racing of the Classic), just doubled and split across two outstanding nights.

I can't wait - so cue Darrell Williams to tell you who's hot and who's not tipping-wise. Enjoy, it promises to be a belter.