Druids Say Go became the fastest female, and the second fastest hound ever, over the Perry Barr 480m course following her PGR Oaks wins on Saturday. Her 27.82 was just five spots outside Coolavanny Shado’s clock. It was her second undefeated Cat One win and her 14th win in her last 15 races. Sprint record holder Rioja Oisin (15.71) duly landed the Scurry in 15.87 for his fifth win in six UK opens. His only defeat was behind was behind Magical Bluebear who followed him over the line on Saturday.
Murrow Inkosi was one of three locals who finished behind Patrick Janssens bitch in the Click East Anglian Derby Final, six weeks ago. Last Monday Richard Fitch’s blue brindle reappeared in A1 company at his home venue and was readily available at 7/4 when seeing off his field in 27.59 which was quicker than any of Saturday night’s opens and just four spots slower than his EAD semi final win.
Golden Palace was a 33/1 chance when reaching his third Cat One final last week, Romford’s Champion Stakes. While he might find that altitude a bit dizzy, he made no mistake on his return against lesser company and produced the best 575, indeed the best performance over any distance this week, when slooshing up in 35.19.
It wasn’t quite the same story for the only local Kent Derby finalist Atomic Crimes who found himself back in Central Park A1 company on Saturday. The layers reckoned Tintreach Tulip (10/11f) had his measure and they were proven right. Paul Donovan’s runner led from trap to line in the quickest run of the week, 29.10 (-10).
Monmore staged a series of opens on Saturday where in-form Vixons Filofax completed a four-timer in open class company and clocked 28.20 (+20) for the second time in three races. A mention too though for Bangon The Clock who won an A1 earlier in the week in 28.17 (+10). It was only the fourth race back for Richie Taberner’s black, who has already won a sprint open, following a six month lay-off through injury. This is a dog with 29.24 (550) winning form at Shelbourne in the first round of the 2023 Irish Derby.
While their big nights are always special, some of Hove’s minor open Thursdays are immediately forgettable. Not so last week: maidens, a bitch’s races and five different distances. Quickest over the 500m course was Newinn Benni (28.94) who must be considered unlucky to be overlooked. However, although Tuono Bella’s 44.56 was the first 740 staged this year, it was still a fabulous run. By means of comparison, Droopys Clue’s wins over course and distance last year were 44.30 (FOY), 44.44 and 44.45.
Unusually, there were no open sprints at Sheffield on Sunday but they still managed to fill opens over four different distances. Pick of the bunch was Millridge Tanic with the second fastest 720 of the year (42.73). Only Innfield Charm (42.59) has gone quicker. That is three wins and a second in his last four outings for Chris Fereday’s coloured stayer whose CV includes reaching finals of the St.Leger and ‘Three Steps’.
All three of Newcastle’s Thursday night opens went to the Fenwick Kennel. Pick of the trio was Ballymac Lineout who beat kennelmate Ballymac Camilla in 38.90 (N) for the 640m. The winning time of 38.90 has only been bettered once this year, by the same blue hound with a 38.84 (+20) run back in June.
On the same night, Produce Stakes winner Southfield Poppy made it five wins from six outings at Swindon with a 28.38 run for the standard. However she was outperformed on the clock by Mike Burton’s Droopys Suprstar who recorded 28.16 despite a ‘bumped first’ race comment. Both are Droopys Sydney offspring though interestingly, despite weighing in at a decent 33.9kg (almost 75lb), the male Suprstar was lighter than the strapping female by three quarters of a kilo.
No opens at Doncaster this week but that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t an open class performance. We are referring to Colliers Brynner’s three length A1 win on Tuesday in 29.58 (N) for the standard trip, easily the fastest time of the week. With only nine races in the last seven months, Paul Prior’s 4/6fav can now hopefully kick on and fulfil the promise of his early career.
Last week’s feature race at Kinsley, its sole A1 ,saw Deelish Lucy (T6 3/1) lead home Ballymac Alyssa (T1 2/1), Sober Ballad (T3 5/1), Kilara Thyestes (T5 15/8f), Fairyhill Daisy (T4 6/1) and Takeiteasytiger (T2 25/1) in 27.76 (+20). So they decided to do it all again. This week the order of finish was Deelish Lucy (T6 11/4), Kilara Thyetes (T4 7/4f), Ballymac Alyssa (T1 15/8), Fairyhill Daisy (T5 7/1), Sober Ballad (T2 6/1) and Takeiteasytiger (T3 28/1) in 27.84 (+20). Same time next week?
You might argue that Harlow’s A2 on Friday night – won by Gothic Icon in 26.83 – was their best race of the week. But there were two quicker runs on the night and a considerably faster time earlier the same day. That belonged to Soul Destroyer with a 26.37 run on going deemed to be +20. (Half an hour earlier it was +10). Form held up though. The last time Debbie Hurlock’s black crossed the line in front it was in 26.39 (N). To deny him the POW on the basis of going allowance would be no good for his soul.
Some average Monday night Nottingham opens were replaced this week by some much better quality Friday night fare. At first glance, the 29.53 run by Barntick Bear appears moderate enough set against March On Freddie’s 29.00 track record. Though the Janssens runner left most of the difference on the track. After walking away he was 34 spots behind Allowdale Cazoo at the split (5.04/5.38), but beat him by four. We know he has a decent break in him (Towcester 4.06). Can’t wait for his next visit to Colwick.
This time last year, Coolavanny Mercy was licking her wounds when turned over as the beaten 4/7fav in the Coral Puppy Cup at Romford. She has since been beaten in the Puppy Derby Final and Angel of the North. So Angela Harrison will be hoping for better luck in Sunderland’s forthcoming ARC Classic. On Friday night she clocked the second fastest 450 of the year, 26.69. Only Acomb Irene (26.54) has gone quicker.
Gagas Merry was only 12 weeks out of season when she won an Oxford A1 in 26.94. Given she is primarily a stayer, and that it would take a while for nature to take its course, a fast six bend run seemed inevitable. On Saturday Robin Jury’s brindle delivered with a very sharp 39.36 open race win. It was the joint fifth fastest run of the year. Only Havana Top Note (39.19TR), Lively Lauren (39.30) and Droopys Clue/Clona Curly (39.34) have gone quicker.
Nothing jumps off the Valley results sheet this week, particularly over four bends. But recent arrival Shesabraveone made it two wins from three outings, the latter being a sprint open, with a 15.95 run on Sunday morning. She held off recent 260m track record breaker Hawkfield Scar (8/13fav) by half a length.
The Gold Collar and Grand National are both due to get underway in 13 days time. Contenders for both were in action at Crayford on Sunday with Slick Sabo the most impressive over the Collar course when beating Havana Top Note in 33.48. But we have selected his kennemate Harlequin Ernie for his jumping efforts. His 23.40 was the fourth fastest over course and distance this year. Not only is he fast, he is consistent too. In his last 13 outings, the Holloway hound has 7 wins and 4 seconds.
Meanwhile there was another son of Knocknaboul Syd doing the business at Pelaw Grange. On Sunday, Colin Watson’s Chippy Chase extended his purple patch to three and showed that he doesn’t need to lead. The 5/4f who clocked 25.64 in his previous race had to pass early leader Laughil Rex but was still the only runner to break 26.00 at the meeting.
Too many statistics can become a bit tiresome but occasionally, some are just so damn impressive we have to keep going there. Take Romeo Command’s Towcester record which was extended on Sunday. It now reads: 26 races, 19 wins, 6 seconds and a 6th. What’s more his 28.59 was his fastest time to date, and just 15 spots outside the clock. Not bad for a dog three months off veteran stage. One final observation, what if he had produced his 3.99 sectional in the 2023 Derby Final, and not the 4.13?
