Last year’s ARC Classic runner-up Moanteen Mikey put himself in prime position to go one better this year with the fastest semi final win at Sunderland on Thursday. Kennelmate Tomjohnjames was favourite to win Newcastle’s quickest A1 this week, but he finished down the field behind 28.70 winner Mr Moss.

On Friday night, Barley Panther recorded the seventh fastest time to date over Oxford’s 450m with a 27.09 run in the heats of the GAIN Oxfordshire Gold Cup. It completed a hat-trick for Matt Dartnall’s 28.21 Shelbourne winner.

The fastest dog over Nottingham 680 trip in 2021, Ramors Jet, became the fastest in 2022 with a 41.93 run on Monday. The problem is, the latest run was eight lengths slower than the 41.27 of 15 months ago. On the other hand, Work From Home’s 14.89 for the 255m was identical to Bobbly Wobbly’s best in 2021.

At Crayford, the third fastest dog this year over Drumbo Park’s 525 and 550 yard trips, Iso Fantastic, clocked the fastest 540 at Crayford in 2022 when winning his first round heat of the Gold Collar.

Afton Pixie had a very decent record at Doncaster in A2. But the bitch who has 38.62 (calc) winning form for the Newcastle 640, – where she has beaten Nice As Ice and Coolavanny Bani – was a surprisingly generous 13-8 when winning her BGBF Leger heat at Doncaster in 42.24 (-40).

Also on Wednesday, Towcester A1 regular Makeit God once showed his versatility when landing a 415m open at Harlow in the fastest time of the night. Frank Gray’s runner had previously won also won an Oxford open on his first look at the circuit.

Antigua Bigun, a former 29.51 A1 winner at Towcester, impressed Romford racegoers with the fastest 575 clocking on Friday night.

His little brother ‘Littlun’ had contested Suffolk Downs best race if the week the previous morning. Olivetree Deano was made the 11-8f to successfully defend his POW title but it was Eric Cantillon’s Newtown Pongo who extended his graded winning streak to four with a 23.99 run.

It would be unusual not to see any Dunphy brothers ‘Droopys’ runners or Ian Greaves’ ‘Swift’ runners on the table. The 25 kilo Droopys Starlet completed her graded hat-trick in Monmore’s top A1 clocking a very respectable 28.50. While at Yarmouth Swift Raisin takes over the slot vacated by Swift Unkind after winning an A1 in 27.60 (-10).

Perry Barr’s Lynwood Assin finds his name in gold with his fastest run to date in A1 at Perry Barr. Grade me again next week Mr Seal? I double dare you. A similar situation at Kinsley where pensioner Glenvale Gav has won the last two top heats. Those Yorkshire bookies are in generous mood too, 9-2 and 7-2.

On the same afternoon, the similarly aged Hollyhill Magic was showing that he can teach the youngsters a thing or two by taking down last week’s Pelaw POW Zoos Fred.

The youngest hound featured this week is 18 month old Calzaghe Isak. Ted Soppitt’s youngster clocked a FON 28.80 for the 500m at Sheffield on Tuesday.

Two months older, My Girl Mia set the standard at a soggy Towcester in the Bet354 Puppy Oaks second round on Sunday. That is six wins and a photo finish second for Seamus Cahill’s 30 kilo black.

Her kennlemate Greedy Punter is no stranger to this column. He won Hove’s feature event on Saturday, that’s four wins and a fourth in his last five races and almost £800 prize money in 32 days.

On October 9, Letterbox Master ran second to Lemming Extra’s FOY for the Swindon 682m – 41.77 (+45). On Sunday night, Jim Little’s bitch reduced that figure by 13 spots with a 41.64 (+30) run.

There would be very little to choose in terms of merit between Blue Tick Jenny’s 40.30 (-20) win over 642m and Seomra Harbour’s 29.05 (-10) at Central Park. But we’ll edge it to Katie O’Flaherty’s blue on the basis of pure perseverance.

When Chelms Cub’s litter brother went to traps on Sunday night it was just his seventh race in the 366 days since he made his racing debut. (The first line of form on his Irish card was a 29.57 qualifying trial at Tralee!). He will be three years old next month, but hopefully we will see the dog he always should have been.

Last but not least and possibly another lesson from the unwritten Guide to Greyhound Racing. Tymekangaroodown made his racing debut at Henlow in A7 back in January and finished second clocking 28.36. Eleven months later, Jason Bloomfield’s British bred polished off his third consecutive A1 in the second fastest 460 of the year, 27.28 (+20)