For a multitude of reasons, Churchfield Syd hasn’t had much luck at Monmore to date, yet there are few hounds in the country who run the 480m course quite as well. In his third attempt at Cat One success in Wolverhampton, the Rees runner clocked the joint fastest time of the year in 27.88. Cooladerry Dust’s 37.41 for the 630m course, isn’t quite so notable in isolation. But beating Droopys Clue and going quicker than the likes of Queen Georgia (37.55) and New Destiny (37.57) certainly is. A great turnaround for the dog who finished sixth in last weekend’s Regency Final – but then he wasn’t alone in that (see below).
Union Rebel first made his reputation at in the Puppy Derby at Monmore when caught in the final strides of his semi by Barntick Bear and Clona Curly. Kevin Hutton’s British bred black then went on to break the Oxford 450m clock (26.44). Swindon’s 476 metres is on the edge of his comfort zone but on Thursday night he had enough class, even on a slow track, to hold off an open class field in 28.22.
Two of Rebel’s litter sisters, Union Blizzard and Union Piper went to traps among the five Hutton runners for the BGBF British Bred Oaks Final at Oxford on Saturday. But the forecast places went to litter sisters Coppice Ella and Southfield Poppy with the Tony Brealey owned white and black staying on best to win in 26.60
Ella and Southfield Poppy are daughters of Irish Oaks winner Forest Natalee. Last week we made comparisons between Natalee’s litter brother Dorotas Wildcat and his talented son, March On Freddie – focusing on their respective times over the 500m course at Nottingham. Wildcat’s fastest ever run over the trip – remembering he won an Eclipse, a Select Stakes and Derby quarter final – was 29.28 (+30). On Monday, Freddie did 29.24 (+40) – a pretty decent effort considering he is still a pup!
Former Hutton hound Cross Keys Hawk produced the quickest graded run of the week at Perry Barr on Saturday when taking an A1 in 28.24. But that was slightly eclipsed by 28.22 open winner Swizz Star (another son of Wildcat) who caught track champion Darley Diglake in the final stride.
Sunday’s Towcester meeting was cancelled due to a hare rail issue, though a 29.20 run from Fabulous Aria in A2 on Friday is a more than worthy option. The first ’23 whelp to feature on the chart suggests more future success from another former Hutton trained sire, Magical Bale. It didn’t work too badly previously with a couple of hounds who also quite liked Towcester: Romeo Magico and Fabulous Azurra.
It seems a case of a week too late for Lightfoot Falcon following his impressive win at Hove on Thursday. Seven days earlier, Seamus Cahill’s black had clocked a 14.46 sectional on his way to a fourth place in the Regency Final won by Baywatch Bullet in 41.51 (+30). On Thursday, Falcon clocked a 14.19 sectional before winning in 41.83 (-30). (A mention too for S2 winner Fleadh Caillin who recorded 41.76 on a +30 track).
Ballymac Taylor finished a head behind Falcon in the same Regency Final. On Friday she was out at Romford and came from way off the pace to land a 750 open by four in 47.34. She remains unbeaten in three outings at Romford though the other two came over her much preferred 925 metres.
None of the big names were out at Central Park this week. The top performance was an A1 win from Affane Bailey who broke the beam in 29.66 (-20). Barrie O’Sullivan’s former Romford A4/S4 runner has finished in the forecast places in 10 of her last 11 races.
Former Central Park A1 winner Brynoffa Bambi produced the quickest run at Harlow this week. Following up on a 26.78 A4 win, Debbie Hurlock’s black saw off an A3 field in 26.32 (+20).
Good Streak was a regular Harlow Performer of the Week where he had 26.21 and 26.27 runs for the standard. Now based at Valley, he remains a potent force having gone faster than new track record holder Cassidy in Sunday’s opens with a 28.04 run. His five-timer was a length outside the 460 record.
It was two years and two months ago six talented youngsters contested the ARC Puppy Trophy Final at Sunderland. 4/11f Arkady was beaten by 6/1 chance Biscuit Billy. Only two of that field are still active. Narcos Chapo is still running A3 at Swindon. On Saturday, George Stark’s Westforth Ceejay produced the outstanding performance of the week at Newcastle, an A2 win in 28.50. It was the 99th outing of his UK career.
On the subject of Sunderland, there it wouldn’t be very often that 27.45 was the fastest 450 of the week. High Street Stag edged out fellow A1 winner Borneo Bucks’ 27.46 with his fifth win in his last six outings on Sunday.
Behind March On Freddie, the Pelaw selection was probably the week’s easiest. The fact that Tromora Meg was only 11 spots off the fastest run of the year (held by Tromora Supreme) made her a shoo-in, without even mentioning that she still has another two months as a juvenile.
There would be a very good case to suggest that Bellmore Cricket’s 27.37 for the 450m was the top performance at Doncaster this week. It was certainly a spectacular return to form following injury for Barry Denby’s runner. In all honesty though at 1/14 in a four dog race, he did look a penalty kick. As a contest, it didn’t compare with a brilliant buckle between Cricket’s kennelmate Leighas Dream (11/8) and Avongate Venus (4/7f). Only a length separated the pair with the Milner runner completing a five-timer in 29.32.
Staying in Yorkshire, last week’s top Kinsley hound Kilara Thystes was in action in the week’s top A2 but was put well and truly in his place by Bev Heaton’s Ballymac Alyssa. The Swiss-Army-Knife of a greyhound is also a regular in top heat sprints and runs off scratch in 462m handicaps. Not only was the 27.54 a new PB, it was also the quickest four-bend run of the year to date.
It was one of the best weeks of the year at Yarmouth with decent runs over all four distances including the fastest times of the year for two of them. The quickest six bend winner, Ballymac Nova (40.64) was beaten by Roy Peckham’s Mrs Doyle over the 843m course. However, Charlie Knows set a new best for the 659m course with a 40.63 run.
Sheffield was flying on Sunday fast runs over three different distances. Robert Holt’s Tricky Wiggles was quickest over the 500, while two former Kevin Boon trained runners both clocked fastest times of the year. Suffolk Downs 388m record holder Bettys Jack produced the year’s fastest sprint, but was slightly outshone by Farneys Willie’s 38.64 over the 660m trip. The previous best was Queen Georgia’s 38.88 run. Only Darbys Delight (38.42) went quicker in 2023.
There was only one spot between the Guys And Dolls semi final winners at Crayford on Sunday evening with Dower Pat (23.12) having the edge over Mini Eva. It has been a slow rise to a Category Two final for Dan Brabon’s D1 sprinter Pat whose first win came in A5 at Central Park early in 2023.
