BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

With Romford and Yarmouth staging multiple events over different distances, it is sometimes hard to compare and contrast. Who could argue with Smallmead’s 34.83 run for the 575 though?

At Yarmouth, there was Shrewd Call’s 16.11 (9 spots off the clock) for the sprint, and a flying 40.51 over six bends for Sheldan. But the nomination has to go to Paul Burr’s local hero Lastfortheroad with the fastest 462 since Affane Party’s 27.32 almost two years ago. Staying with the open racers, you can’t look past Queen Jessiej’s 27.89 in the second round of the Produce Stakes at Swindon.

The staying scene is really hotting up at the moment and the return of Skilful Sandie at Central Park brings another big player back to the party.

Nottingham’s most impressive run is almost always the oldest on the table, given it usually takes place on a Monday night, but there is a familiar look to it with ‘under the radar’ runner Look Like Power retaining the slot for a second week. That is 6/6 at Colwick Park. Harlow’s Hot Product is another making consecutive appearances on the chart, as has Hove’s top A1 performer Chipping Away. Though few have featured more consistently this year than Pelaw’s outstanding veteran Nametab Coco.

Doncaster’s Ballymac Rocket will surely soon be returning to the open race scene following his impressive 29.52 win in the track’s best recent A1.

By this time next week, we will almost certainly be looking at the GAIN sponsored ‘Three Steps’ at Sheffield. In the meantime, it is the 29.08 A3 winner Saleen Again.

Of all the criteria we use to make our selections, being the fastest over the track’s standard distance will usually put you in the shake-up. So a 27.38 for Coconut Bay was good enough at Henlow. Interestingly, it has taken her nine months to rise from A8, and she has shed nearly 3kg (28.6-25.9) in the process. At the opposite end of the scale is Perry Barr’s quickest A1 winner of the week, the 38 kilo Newinn Banger.

Freedom Mike was correspondingly the quickest over Newcastle’s 480 metres with a 28.40 run in A2. While at neighbouring Sunderland, Square One was quickest of levels for the week in A2.

Kinsley’s Brosna Blonde makes the list based on her incredible consistency. Last nine races, 6 wins, two seconds and a third.

We don’t like to double up on selections but found it impossible to split the runs of two ’19 whelps at Towcester. Heather Dimmock’s Quivers Guess clocked 16.15 (-05) on debut, while Frank Gray’s Makeit Darcy was just two spots slower.

Three way splits are even rarer, but this feature was set up for events like Track Championships and Monmore staged three finals on Saturday which went to Final Moon, Jazzers Man and Distant Move.

Of how else would Woodcocks Akia’s achievements be acknowledged? On August 1 she started at 4-1 in an S4 at Crayford. She won it, followed by two S1s, and on Saturday clocked the fastest 380 of the month when completing a 980-1 four-timer!