BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

There was only one dog ever going to headline this feature this week, the new track record holder for the English Derby course, Lautaro. The Janssens runner clocked 30.37 (4.34 sect) for his first look at the course back in October. Four weeks later he won on debut in 29.38 (4.27 sect). He has since found 54 spots, of which 20 have come in the first 58 metres.

It is a case of heart ruling head at Crayford. While absolutely acknowledging Blue Tick Jenny’s 45.27 in the Kent St. Leger consolation, how can we not honour the brilliant final winning effort of Rising Coco. She might not have been 50-1 this week, but the former A7/S4 grader will give hope to anyone with a limited budget. ‘Your never know’.

Black Tower’s 30.00 in Nottingham’s sole Monday night open might not be setting the track alight, but it is worth reflecting that it was easily the best time of the week and 2.22 seconds quicker than an A9 winner two days later.

It was business as usual for Coolavanny Galiv at Sheffield on Tuesday. The 15.67 was his sixth win in his last eight and just two spots outside his own track record which was set in that sequence.

Olivetree Deano, still fastest to date over the Suffolk Downs 388m course with a 23.67 (N), won his fourth race in a row on Monday. As good as his 24.23 (-30) run was though, how could we overlook the August puppy Energize Tik with a seven length win on the same card in 24.02 (-30)?

It is tempting to put fast Doncaster times down to the track running so well, but that would be doing an injustice to Debbie Calvert’s Ferryforth Davy who beat the year’s previously fastest 483m performer Barnside Millie, and a string of top heat blue bloods, in a new quickest time, 29.33.

There was a gallant attempt by Sparta Master to hold onto his crown with another win at Harlow on Wednesday. But he was taking on the FOY 415m run this by Lamorna Ollie with a 26.09.

One of the hardest calls came at Newcastle where the brilliant Blackhouse Harry continued his return to form with a 28.48 win. But we will go for the similarly aged Witton Razl whose race was arguably easier – a heat of the British bred maiden – but the 28.53 win was in the first race of her career. Staying with Geordie bred August pups, Supa Nova was bred by Ian Greaves, now based in Monasterevin of course, produced the outstanding performance at Yarmouth this week with a 27.70 victory. The 31 kilo black is from a very promising litter sired by ex-Newcastle hound Eden The Kid. Nova’s litter brother Swift Buttons has also broken 28.00 at the same track having won his last three.

At the start of the year, Stranger Things was dominating the Sunderland A1 grade going unbeaten in three outings. Open racing an a lay-off ended the sequence but the Yvonne Bell trained runner is back to his best with two from his last three including an impressive 27.21.

Perry Barr’s selection was always going to come from ‘whoever won the A1 on Saturday’. That turned out to be Carla Hendy’s Gavins Rocco in 28.46. The black is of course a litter brother to the fastest over course and distance this year, Trionas Travel.

There was some cowardly swerving of a decision on the 23.93 dead heat between Antigua Socks and Carter Bar at Romford to push the nomination in the direction of bear 12 length 750 winner, Slippy Mick.

Monmore’s Dog of the Month final took place on Saturday and was won by Ballydoyle Luigi (28.56). But that run was put into the shade by the 28.23 from Goldies Mabbutt. Only Antigua Storm (28.06) and Burnchurch Mick (28.14) have gone quicker.

With a string of A1s being won in 29.70 or slower, you might be tempted to think that Hove was running slow this week. So how would you explain the 29.29 run for puppy Seomra Syd? And that was in A2!

Kinsley’s and Pelaw Grange both staged their top races of the week on Sunday, and both were designated A2. Four of last week’s A2 field met again and once again and for a second week in a row, Grotroe Rainbow showed punters they had underestimated her. Last week 9-2, this week 3-1.

Pelaw’s was more straightforward with Belmore Chief clocking the only sub 26.00 run at the sole meeting. In fact, his 25.70 was a joint fastest run of the year and followed a losing run of 16 races, six as favourite, for the former Central Park D1 runner.

Meanwhile back at Central Park there was a winning return for Shrewd Call, a calculated 40.00 for Distant Bolt, and a 28.89 for Alfie Herbert’s pup Bigger Duke in a maiden, but defending champ Emers Romeo’s 29.01 (-20) was again the fastest middle distance hound of the week.

A similar story at Central Park where stayer Bluejig Turbo repeated his antics of a week ago by going quickest and landing a 476m open beating a field that included Ballymac Conti and Magical Ezra.