BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

On Thursday night, here was a fabulous win for Signet Denver who became the first British bred winner of the Laurels since Balligari, exactly 30 years ago. It was his first Cat One win having been beaten in two puppy finals at Towcester.

Choosing Monmore’s leading performer at the Judgement Night meeting was no simple task. Bearing in mind the going was -40, Patrick Janssens’ winning joker Deelish Frankie must get it though on the basis of a 28.42 run for the 480.

But the Towcester selection was by far the hardest to choose and the most open to dispute. In fact, it was the hardest challenge ever in this feature with five performances that would be nailed-on most weeks. In the best Jim Bowen style, ‘here are a list of those who could have won’: Hellofakerfuffle (Maiden Derby), Knocknaseed Gem (15.64 270m), Global Vision (29.14 500m FOY), and Baggios Champ (43.01 712m Towcester beating Space Jet). But we are going for 22 month old Farneys Richie with a 29.17 run.

Sheffield’s Tuesday night opens weren’t as classy as some but Sandwood Buster beat a field that included Skywalker Stan in a respectable 29.01. Recognition must be made of Eagle Ridge’s fastest 790 at Harlow in the last couple of years, but the nod goes to the quickest of the 415m course, Suzie Jezabelle.

On Sunday at sister track Henlow, the A1 featured four ‘Savana’ runners. However, none were as impressive as Saturday’s A1 winner Savana Raven who reduced his previous FOY run by 23 spots. That’s 10 wins from his last 16 for Jason Bloomfield’s black.

Ever since Droopys Garden clocked 23.88 for Romford’s 400m course and then showed she stays six bends, it was a case of ‘how long’ before she matched that run over 575? The answer came on Friday night with a 35.00 clocking, Only Coolavanny Aunty (34.87) has gone quicker this year.

Doncaster staged three opens and two A1s this week with Matts Malibu clocking the fastest sprint to date this year. Of the two A1s, one could probably be described as A1* and the winner of it was always going to be the Performer of the Week. It turned out to be Debbie Calvert’s Go Go Wink in a very respectable 29.56.

There was one sub-24.00 run at Suffolk Downs, Caesar. Paul Rea’s runner seems better suited to the 388m course having been an improving A6 runner at Henlow. Similarly there was only one ‘29’ at Nottingham as Churchill Holly landed her second POW in a fortnight.

The Crayford selection was a close call between two of Heather Dimmock’s open winners. Milton Rio’s 23.22 was the second fastest 380 of the year, but none have gone quicker over the 540 course than Popworld.

Brilliant Newcastle pup Blackhouse Harry made his return to his home track in A1 last week and ran a cracker to finish close third to the week’s fastest winner Droopys Hooray. Staying in the North East, Erill Can was the only hound to retain his crown for a second week, though his 26.01 in the A1 was challenged by Snazzy Jacko (26.01/A2) and Glengiblin Tommy (26.02/A3).

Millbank Peach looked set to retain her Central Park title when finding three spots to win consecutive A1s in 29.26. But Tony Collett’s Jurassic Rose, who may switch back to six bends when the opens return, was a length and a half quicker.

Sunderland has been running fast with Stranger Things and Glamorous Vicky both clocking 27.26 in A1s. But we’re going for 27.29 winning puppy Perfecto Mason.

It wasn’t clear cut at Kinsley either. Freyas Secret won an A3 (full of A2 runners) in the fastest run of the week, 27.91. Glenvale Gav was 10 spots slower though nobody could argue that a field that included Gortroe Rainbow, Ross Magic and Balltadhg Peg wasn’t the cream of the Kinsley crop.

Most weeks, the Hove selection is found in the A1 results. But Carter Bar’s fastest 285m run makes Derek Knight’s runner a ‘penalty kick’. The black, who also picked up the award at Romford, is from probably the most prolific Performance of the Year litter we have covered featuring previous winners Ballyboss Baz (Sheffield), Iron Brew (Towcester), Loch Ryan and Montrose (both Yarmouth).

In fact Montrose featured in Yarmouth’s A1* event on Wednesday which also featured a full field of previous winners of this feature: Lakeview Floyd, Drumdoit Lucy, All About Gold, Gracias Lorenzo and the eventual winner in the fastest time of the week, Maxi Twister.

The week concluded with another win for Swindon’s fastest four bend hound this year, Ballymac Ino. Her 28.07 run on Sunday night was 13 spots off her best, but that is four in a row for Angie Kibble’s 31 kilo b/w bitch.