IRISH PERFORMANCES OF THE WEEK

Only one place to start, and the fastest two runs in the Boylesports Irish Derby first round with kennelmates Totos Park and Clonbrien Prince, just two of the six first round winner for Graham Holland

The reason for ‘double nominations’ can be best summed up this week by two performances at Waterford. In the Munster Oaks, Vancouver clocked the fastest 525 in more than a year with a 28.18 run. However, on the same card, the unraced pup Ballydoyle Valor – a litter brother to Roxholme Butt – was just three spots slower.

At the other end of the scale and another fine performance from veteran Jaytee Patriot to win the Cambridgeshire at Limerick.

The recent trend of turning puppy events into ‘juvenile’ competitions is at best controversial, at worst, self defeating. So while the ‘adult juvenile’ Gone To Ground might claim the fastest time in, formerly, one of the most prestigious puppy events in the Irish racing calendar, the Texacloth ‘Puppy’ Cup, the nomination goes to the marginally slower Mar’17 pup Ballymac Beach.

Elsewhere Harton Blitz clocked the fastest 550 at Drumbo this year, while Invincible Mike matched the year’s best 550 at Cork. Springwell Murty set a new best in 2018 for Mullingar’s 525 and Droopys Steel was just 20 spots outside the Tralee two bend clock.

The performance of the week?

Probably one that has gone under most radars –two and a half year old Lemon Jetson recorded the fastest sprint seen at Lifford in eight years – more than a year after qualifying – but in the first race of his career.