BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Trying to separate the comparative merits of the winners of the Sussex Cup and Regency is impossible. So we will swerve them both with the Hove nomination going to the remarkable, previously retired British bred veteran, who was beaten a neck in one of the best staying races we are likely to see this year, Affleck Lady.

He might have been trying to keep the bookies off the scent with a ‘just lucky I guess’ response to a dog finding five lengths between semi and final, but (the ex-flapper on at 33s ante post) Pat Rosney was fooling no one after Bower Luke’s 28.23 run (4.42 sect.) to win the RPGTV All England Cup.

The Rosney kennel were all cheering on their ex-racer Droopys Trawler in the Champion Hurdle at Central Park. But the big prize went to James Turner’s Swift Loki – a son of Swift Hoffman. . . .

Sticking with the open race theme there was a sensational run from Queen Jessiej at Monmore, 28.01 having taken a tour of Wolverhampton and Dudley (T2 see below) before rejoining the race at the third bend. There is also a female nomination at Romford where Burgess Lucia produced the fastest 400 of the week.

Sunderland sprinter Sporting Galileo might be contesting graded races but his winning times are absolutely open class. The most recent contribution was a 15.65 run. Last year only Lacken Decco went quicker (15.61).

Only one hound broke 28.00 at Yarmouth this week, Wardys Legend, trained by a legend in his own right, Ray Pleasants. Ray was one of the original handlers to switch from independent racing and has been training dogs at the track for the guts of 50 years.

She’s small but surprisingly quick, and so is her hound. The Anna Thompson trained Towstar Vixen (25.9kg) became the fastest female over the Derby course this week with a 29.56 win in A1.

Even if he wasn’t the fastest winner at Perry Barr this week, he would deserve a mention just for his name – Followthe Boooom. (That’s o x 4). Among the ‘rewarded for consistency’ winners would be Sheffield sprinter Meadow Way Star with a 16.01 winner following consecutive 16.05 victories.

A 23.13 FOY run for Crayford’s 380 metres is worthy of note in itself, but definitely more so in that it was Vics Charm’s first victory –since last November.

The Doncaster track staff have had the circuit in mint condition and there have been a string of flying times. On balance sprinter Ballymac Rockway just edges short-four-bender Russana Bondi with a 16.82 run – the quickest over course and distance in two years and four days.

With nothing of any note over four bends at Harlow, the focus falls on ex-Peterborough sprinter Tober Ophelia. In most weeks a 27.73 run for Kinsley’s 462m would be unlikely to stand out, but it was the quickest by some distance for Thunder Strike. You could apply a similar argument for Pennylane Knight’s 25.94 A2 victory at Pelaw.

Last week, a Matt Dartnall trained hound had to share the POW title. This week it goes to kennelmate Revels with a 29.78 run.

The Golden Oldie of the week (even more senior than Affeck Lady) is Carol Grasso’s marvelous old servant Stringer Bell who has just picked off two D1 sprints at Henlow. Easiest graded selection of the week? Swindon’s Coolykereen Tara with a 28.15 run for the standard.