The old track record over “708m” at Central Park was jointly held by Cochise and Farneys Chloe at 44.96. The new “731m” record from the same starting traps, in the same place, went three times in the heats of the ARC Cesarewitch on Saturday night. When the dust settled the new record holder is the ante post favourite to win the event, Garfiney Blaze with a 44.94 run on -20 going.
The last track record of 2023 went to Romeo Command and Patrick Janssens’ was a nine length winner in the quickest first round heat of the Blue Riband at Towcester on Sunday. That is 20 wins in 29 opens for the Derby runner-up. But we can’t ignore the fabulous sprint run from Bombout Bullet with a 15.60 (-05) run – just two spots off Quarteira’s fastest sprint last year – recorded on +20, last August
Micks Strike clocked the fastest 450 on Oxford’s Saturday afternoon open race card (26.80), but times alone aren’t the only criteria. By comparison, we reckon the 27.02 of April puppy Coppice Ella just edges it. She was the fastest heat winner in the BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup and showed tremendous bottle and track craft for one so young.
Clairekeith Remy has been a magnificent servant for the Gardiner kennel having contested four Cat One finals. He was back among Hove minor open racer company on Saturday and class shone through with a 30.24 (-20) run over the 515m course.
Roll on the Essex Vase (closes today) and Romford punters were given a taste of what is to come in the last race on Friday. You only need to know the names in the tricast: 1 Romeo Hotshot, 2 New Destiny, 3 Aayamza Sydney. They would fittingly fill half the boxes in a top class final.
They say that Yorkshire folk know how to hang onto their brass. Well Nottingham’s Barry Denby seems to be making a habit of relieving them of barrowloads of it. Another four-timer (x £250) at Doncaster on Saturday. There was another great run from Ballyhimikin Mel over six bends, but we’re going for her kennelmate Leighas Dream with a 29.36 run over the standard.
There will be few more interesting selections this week than Lynn Cook’s Bitumen. Beaten in his last 11 races A1/A2 at Sunderland, he looked similar grade at Nottingham before gradually finding some form last summer and establishing himself as a ‘proper A1’ winner in 29.60. On Friday he completed a five-timer, the first coming in A1 and the remainder being in open class company.
Hawkfield Diego was the first hound to carry his 2023 form into the new year. The last POW of the old year at Sunderland stepped up on that on Friday with his second consecutive A1 success.
The fastest run of the week at Swindon was Carrick Aldana’s 28.40 (+20) in A2. The best run though? It might be Angie Kibble’s 19 month old pup Eagles Dare with a nine length A5 win in in 28.51 (+10).
What is the better run at Harlow? 15.13 for the sprint or 26.40 for the 415? It might just be Front Mali’s 15.13 over the 238m but the fact that Lemming Nasa is still a pup, and was followed over the line by sister Lemming Pride, means we’ve opted for Paul Clarke’s runner. Henlow regulars may remember their mum who won six of her eight races at Henlow for Carol Weatherall. She also threw the petulant Lemming Caesar who transgressed with the Three Steps Final within his grasp.
The fastest run over Monmore’s 630 metres last year was Fromposttopillar’s 37.37. So Beatties Sparkle’s 37.73 in Wednesday’s S1 is more than worthy of mention.
Harry Burton had his best year as a trainer in 2023 with the highlight being the ARC Classic win for Jonny Whiskers. New arrival Tonelagee made fell at the first hurdle but is starting to get his act together back at Newcastle by landing consecutive A2/A1 races, the most recent being in the fastest time of the week, 28.63 (-10).
Of all the stories in this week’s column, none is probably more interesting than the Perry Barr selection, Crafty San Diego. He made his UK debut almost 18 months ago for David Mullins. He won a few minor opens, four and six bends, was switched to hurdles, won a Springbok Trialstake followed by a spell with Michelle Brown. He arrived in Brum last Autumn and was on a 19 race losing streak when he went to traps in A2 and set the fastest time of the week, 28.43. It was his first win since landing a hurdle open at Hove last June.
Due to a combination of lost meetings and a slow track, both caused by wet weather, Suffolk Downs only had one hound break the 24.00 barrier this week. Faithful Friend landed an A2 in 23.99 (-20) for her first win in five outings.
Yarmouth’s first Sunday meeting was highlighted by the week’s top A1 which featured two of the previous week’s Yarmouth Championship finalists, Droopys Sport and Chanceme Jacko. Roxys Bullet didn’t make it through to that final but was good enough to beat the pair of them with a 27.85 win.
We have a new rule for Sheffield this year. Unless it is blindingly obvious of a superior performance, Maximum Security will get the award every week. (Only kidding 😏) That rule wouldn’t be necessary this week though with Nigel Saunders’ prolific veteran the best of the Sunday afternoon open winners. That was his 26th win in 73 races and he is just three months off his fifth birthday.
Staying in God’s county, Kinsley’s top graded event this week, an A2, saw at least three of the track’s top half dozen graders in the line-up. The bookies made Ay Up Frederick their 11/10f but it was the strong finishing Outbreak Abigail who prevailed in the fastest time of the week. Robert Fletcher’s 28 kilo black had a best qualifying time of 29.23 last summer and has climbed the grading ladder from A8.
There was also a first Sunday meeting for Valley where Craig Martson’s Whisky Sallagh lowered the comparatively recent sprint clock by 15 spots with a 16.08 run.
A year ago yesterday, Kellsboro Ava was beaten in an A7 at Romford. Yesterday, she produced the most eye catching open race win on Crayford’s Sunday card with a 33.77 run for the 540m.
Henlow staged their third last meeting on Sunday night and disappointingly, did not get the entries for a decent open race card. Hopefully the last two Sundays will be better. Star on the night was the Jason Bloomsfield trained Savana Camino with a 27.59 run in A3.
With cobwebs being singed on on the lighting system, the final race of the week (9.22) was staged at Pelaw Grange. The real interest though was the re-match between Chelms Paul and the track’s no.1 hound Inniskeel Josie. Paul had the nerve to turn over the 11/8f last week but punters never lost their faith and she returned at 6/5f when seeing off the usurper in 25.91. Best of three?
