BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

The quality of the recent ARC Northern Puppy Derby was reflected in the Monmore equivalent on Saturday where the Newcastle tricast picked up half of the six heats. Quickest on the clock was Tom Heilbron’s Newcastle champ Freedom Alibi with a 28.25 run.

Kennelmate Freedom Whiskey boasts a fabulous record at Nottingham which he extended on Monday. He is unbeaten in his last four over course and distance having last been beaten just over a length by Crossfield Dusty in the National Sprint Final.

Dusty took his place in Friday night’s Golden Sprint heats, but it was Droopys Flight who produced the best performance of his career and the fastest 400m run seen at Romford in six months with a 23.86 run.

Heads were being scratched following Savana Spartacus’ 59.76 (-40) defeat of Space Jet at Towcester on Sunday. While clearly a decent run, it is worth remembering that Aayamza Royale clocked 58.15 (+40) last year, So we’ll edge it to Callmesteve for a 43.60 (-30) run. Salacres Pippy’s clock is 42.90 (+15).

Newcastle’s top middle distance hounds will have one eye on the forthcoming Northern Flat and Thursday nights have become the best shop window for local talent. Last week Droopys Hooray was beaten by Potent Touch in 28.85 (-20). Hooray stepped up on that run this week with a 28.60 (-10) run. But then so did his kennelmate!

Bottomless going makes it almost impossible to compare the two Kevin Proctor winners at Harlow (like many other tracks!) on Thursday. Was Front Move’s 39.37 (-160) more worthy than Front Society’s 26.78 (-80)? As a ‘contested decision’ we’ll leave the title with the latter – that’s five in a row.

Sticking with the ‘successful title defence’ theme, Lenson Doolin was unable to reproduce his stunning 29.29 run of a week ago, but the 29.64 follow up guarantees he will start favourite for the forthcoming ARC Springbok. While at Sheffield Dairy Hill Jet retained top billing by winning for the fifth time in his last seven outings at the track.

It has been six months since Headford Flash last won a race when he defeated Havana Class in a heat of the Birmingham Cup. Since his lay-off he has been struggling to see out for bends, but a switch back to the 262m at Swindon proved just the tonic as he produced a very decent 15.77 (-10) run.

Quality was a bit thin on the ground at Crayford this week but credit to Hove veteran Brutus Bullet who missed his break and came from behind Woodcocks Akia to reverse the Bussey Memorial form. That’s five wins and five seconds from Bullet’s last 11 races.

On the subject of Hove, two performances stood out above all others this week. On Thursday Pocket Lulu landed an A1 in 29.73 (-30) following Britania Alice’s 29.66 (-20) run two days previously. On a coin spin, and in view of a fabulous recent record, we’re edged it to the Jason Heath trained runner whose last 12 races have brought six wins and five second places.

Two years ago Takemyhand was running A3 at Belle Vue. But she wasn’t in any better form than now having won her last two A2s, the most recent being in 28.73 (-10).

At Yarmouth, Dominance has dominated with three impressive consecutive A1 wins. But that rule is over, at least temporarily, following Lakeview Floyd’s smash-and-grab neck victory in a new FOY, 27.66.

Doncaster’s weekly A1 featured three hounds who had been beaten in last Saturday’s contest taking on three recent A2 winners. But it was the grandaddy of them all, 39 kilo Catunda Tom who led home a Sean Parker 1-2-3 from Headiton Lennie and Zero O Eight. It might not have been the fastest time of the day but any five and a half year old taking top heat deserves special recognition.

Two weeks ago Bit View Cara was running A3 at Sunderland with one win in her previous 18 races. Chantelle McNicholas’ blue brindle is now chasing down a hat-tricking having won A3 and A1 and clocked the fastest 450 of the week. Meanwhile at neighbouring Pelaw, it was July puppy Arlos Sweep who set the standard with a 26.11 run.

Although Savana Raven’s 27.70 win at Henlow was eclipsed by one spot, there was a two grade difference between him and Cloncunny Walker, so Jason Bloomfield’s runner retains his crown. Former Henlow open racer/A2 grader Playbook clocked the fastest graded time to date for the Suffolk Downs 388 metres.

It was all about the Mark Siddall trained pair, Madabout Power and Hardy Act at Kinsley. They both recorded 28.70 at the same meeting, though Power’s win was in the higher grade and on going rated five lengths slower.