BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

The Performance of the Week choices will always be subjective and this week’s is an absolute nightmare. We kick off with the big meetings at Crayford and a double conundrum. Two Cat 1 winners.

After careful thought we have given the nod to Desperado Dan following his Gold Collar victory. It is true that his winning time was eclipsed by Aayamza Lexie, but going through the event unbeaten and winning the decider in his 80^th race really is special. Commiserations to Simon Harms and Droopys Bird in landing the Kent St.Leger.

The Central Park call was another tough one with Kingsbrook Glynn producing another flying 642m run, but again, following contemplation, the vote goes to Antigua Jet. On times, you might argue that a 29.11 (-30) for the 480 is slightly inferior to Glynn’s 39.98 (-45 for 642m). But beating a field that contains Bockos Doomie and Seaglass Tiger and going a spot quicker than Kilara Lion is well worthy of acknowledgement.

Not that the Derby quarter finals were much easier. As it turns out, Wolfe has redeemed his reputation following last year’s blip and a fastest-of-night 29.47 is good enough with less than a length covering all four winners.

Sticking with the open racers it is good to see Droopys Aoife back to somewhere near her best form with four wins in her last six at Romford.

There have been some fine British bred performances in the last seven days, including two winners at Newcastle for Kevin Ferguson. We will serve Maiden Derby winner Acomb Jenny in favour of her brother Acomb Winston. The Produce Stakes finalist has always shown the potential to be ‘a proper greyhound’ and a 28.37 shows that he may now be delivering.

Although Queen Lilly missed out on a place in the BGBF Scurry final, her 26.19 was a far more worthy performance than winner 26.88 event winner Dundee June.

Sticking with British breds, Doncaster’s Russanda Bondi produced easily the most impressive A2 win of the week, 29.58, on his 483m debut. More Yorkie home breds: Ay Up Grace was easily the quickest four bender at Kinsley, while Fearsome Encore won the quickest A2 of the week at Sheffield in 28.83. Power Magic landed the best Hove A2 over a similar metreage, though the time was 29.35. The fastest Towcester 500 went to Makeit Tiger in 29.61.

Open race form is holding up at Henlow where Maiden Derby finalist Night Time Hero bounced back to win his seventh race in his last 12 outings for Steve Rayner.

The Monmore selection was tricky with so little between a string of top heat winners, so we’ve gone with the versatile A1/S1 runner Greenhill Jack following his most recent S1 win in a calculated 37.84. The Pelaw selection Owley Gunner is also a dual distance type but with no staying races on the horizon has to be satisfied with A1 wins. Still in the North East, Kilbride Romeo recorded the fastest 450 at Sunderland since February.

Perry Barr will be dominated by open races in the coming weeks but Effernogue Patsy won the best graded event at the track in the last week in a respectable 28.60. At Yarmouth there tends to be one dog breaking 28.00 to land the award every week. This week is the turn of Swift Addition.

Perhaps the most notable thing about Distant Sailor’s A1 win at Swindon is that had he been contesting the night’s A9, according to the clock, the winning distance would have been more than 20 lengths.