When an 18/1 chance wins a final, there is a tendency to think ‘lucky winner?’. But when he sets a new track record and beats the previous record holder by nearly four lengths, the ‘lucky’ becomes ‘worthy’ with no question mark. Maxine Locke’s Droopys Display was unraced going into Newcastle’s Northern Puppy Derby where he reached the final unbeaten. Thirteen races and eight months later he became the first hound to break 28.50, ever, over the Central Park four bends when landing the PGR Kent Derby.
Just as often we judge a race win by time and on that basis, Wicky Ned’s 28.96 in the Bresbet Steel City Cup is hardly pulling up any trees. But you needed to see the race. Jimmy Fenwick’s brindle went into the traps as an 8/11fav and came out of them as a 10/1 chance. Having produced 4.08 and 4.05 sectionals in the heats, even the 4.29 doesn’t do it justice as he was already catching up. But in a race remembered more for tenacity and bravery, rather than speed, Ned won his third Cat 1 in UK outing no.13.
Mark Wallis wins the Champion Stakes. That makes a change! When New Destiny crossed the winning line in 34.63 for Romford’s six bends, she became his fifth winner of the event, to go with his six Essex Vases and five Coronation Cups. Although Destiny’s winning time was 10 spots off her track record, it was on going rated 15 spots slower. A mention too for Brindle Bully completing a six-timer to win the Cat 2 event in 23.67.
We really don’t like doubling up on selections. So which one misses out? Rioja Oisin’s 15.71 sprint track record at Perry Barr? Nine spots inside Gougane Jet’s previous clock? Or Druids Say Go’s seven timer (12 from her last 13) in the Oaks semi final, just nine spots outside the 480m record held by former kennelmate Coolavanny Shado? The answer is obvious.
Less than 24 hours later the Janssens kennel did get their track record, this time at Towcester with Barntick Bear. The 28.44 run is a length quicker than his previous clock which he later shared with Avongate Venus. Realistically, the 500 metres is below his optimum distance whereas the 712m is almost certainly too far. Although he would surely improve on his 42.64 first look at six bends, it is still almost eight lengths short of Savana Jackpot’s 42.02 track record.
A third Performance of the Week selection for Sarah Spillane’s Links Weapon following a couple of open race defeats leaving a recent record of five wins from his last seven races. The 28.66 run for Nottingham’s 480 metres is the sixth fastest time over course and distance this year, though he also has 27.70 form for the Sheffield equivalent. A mention too for Antigua Walt with a 17.66 sprint run on Friday.
Last week’s top Yarmouth performer Swift Unkind had absolutely no chance (apparently) in this week’s top A1 and went to traps as the 12/1 outsider. Of all the nerve! What better time, at four years and four months old, for John Mullins’ veteran to record the fastest ‘462’ of his career in outing no. 127. Have it!
Two minutes after Swift Unkind crossed the winning line at Yarmouth, his little litter brother Swift Uno was seeing off a Harlow A3 field in the fast four bend time of the week, 26.50. Maurice Rice’s brindle – the lighter of the pair by nearly seven kilos – began his racing career at Yarmouth and was going to traps for outing no.147. But neither brother has as many outings as Uno’s litter sister Swift Acquit who was withdrawn lame from her 150th race at Harlow in June.
But the litter connections don’t stop there. It was a tough call at Hove separating the relative merits of the fastest 500m open winner Droopys Pivotel and a very useful 41.71 run over six bends for Ower Smasher. In the end, Pivotel’s win over Wasted Money just gets it with the 29.03 time making it the ninth fastest time over the 500 metre course this year. His 28.91 run, when only 21 months old, rates as the third quickest.
Meanwhile Pivotel’s litter brother Droopys Priority was burning up the Valley four bend circuit with the fastest run of the week, a 28.07 (+20) A1 win. Mike Burton’s 34 kilo black is also the fourth quickest hound over the six bend course this year. A mention too for Sunday’s quickest winner Crokers Hugo with a 28.28 run when getting home by 14 lengths.
The Monmore selection was a three-way poser. Aero Pattika’s 15.23 sprint win, Thor Odinson’s 28.27 for the standard or Newinn Syd’s 37.79 for the short six bends. First runner-up Pattika, from the litter that includes Bockos Diamond, March On Freddie and Brindle Bully, was just a length off the fastest sprint of the year, having started out in A8. But we’ve gone for the Jan ’23 Brendan Matthews bred youngster Thor Odinson for a 28.27 open win in the third race of his career.
There was a huge temptation to retain Skeard Josie as Newcastle’s top performer following her third consecutive open race win at the track on Thursday night. But even allow for her age, it is impossible to dismiss the claims of Slingshot Sam who was 29 spots faster on the clock. Brian Fairburn’s brindle has four wins and a second from his last five races.
With four wins and two seconds from his last seven races, Chippy Chase falls into the category of ‘always gives you a run’. He was also the quickest of Pelaw’s 10 race winners this week with a 25.62 run in A2.
While at Sunderland, the ex-Pelaw grader Murphys Coco clocked the fastest A1 of the week, 27.11. But while her win was on going rated +20, Chasing Colbert’s 27.27 run was on normal going and followed a 27.15 run the previous week. Yvonne Belle’s ex-Newcastle veteran won his first Sunderland A1 back in May 2023.
Among the various routes to instant time finding are ‘a run on the bunny’ and a ‘tough extended run’. Last week Westway Zoro led an 896m marathon for 895 metres before being pipped by a neck. One week on, Zoro found himself back over four bends and went to within half a length of the fastest 470 of the year.
With Crayford’s Sunday open race card cancelled, thoughts shift to the graded strength where there are several with decent claims for acknowledgement including 33.74 S2 winner Rockmount Rosie. But how can we ignore Jim Reynolds’ Noduff Grand? His 23.13 was the fastest 380 of the week, and his last ten races have produced five wins and five second places. Not bad for a dog a fortnight off his fifth birthday!
It would be hard to find a more competitive graded race in the last week than Kinsley’s top heat on Friday. Kilara Thyestes, the POW for the previous fortnight, was made favourite in a field that included four of opposition that took him on a week ago. Deelish Lucy was sold at last July’s Doncaster Sales for £1,250. But after showing little in her short time at Oxford she has gone through the grades at Kinsley. Although she has beaten Thyestes before, though this was her first A1 success.
Meanwhile at Yorkshire neighbours Doncaster, a lack of opens and slow going might have made for some difficult comparative decisions. Fortunately, when the defending POW wins again, produces another flying run (beating some of the best hounds at the track), extends his winning sequence to five over both distances AND he is still a pup. . .what is left to decide? We are talking Debbie Calvert’s Dannys Flyer beating Skywalker Tino and Scatter Milo in 16.84.
In all honesty, Bit View Philly’s credentials for retaining the Oxford selection are altogether more tenuous. It is true that Kevin Hutton’s blue won again, but in a slightly slower time than last week. But with nothing else forcing their name to the fore, and going allowances making matters even more complicated, he falls into the category of, ‘if not him, then who?’
