53 weeks is a long time in greyhound racing. On June 11 2021, Bockos Belly set a new Towcester 500m track record of 29.03. Sixth, beaten 23 lengths was 22 month old Romeo Magico. On Saturday night, the Melton Mowbray born son of Magical Bale clocked the fastest semi final and goes into next week’s decider as a 2-1 chance – subject to change following today’s trap draw.

Sticking with the British bred theme, there was a very decent run by Ballyblack Speed at Hove on Thursday, his 30.30 (-20) being the fastest of the night’s 515m opens.

We have already waxed lyrical about the exploits of the brilliant youngster Arkady at Sunderland. In short, 21 months old, 10 spots off the 450m track record. Bet the Mullins kennel can’t wait for Thursday!

Sticking with the opens, last weeks Havana Robusto was unlucky not to get the Crayford nomination for a 33.59 run. This week he won again – looking quite a find for Ricky Holloway – but was edged out on the clock by kennel mate Ritsys Spirit.

Two weeks ago Go Commando produced the best 450m run of the year at Doncaster. On Sunday he stepped up to 500m and clocked 28.86 (-10) for Sheffield raider Gary Ferguson.

Many of you probably hadn’t read last week’s POW feature by the time Saffrons Dash had nailed this week for this week. The August pup set a new track record in his eighth race, an A2 on Monday morning. His 23.55 for Suffolk Downs’ 388m was 12 spots inside the previous best. It wouldn’t be the first time that Imperial Kennels had launched the career of a future Cat One winner in A4.

Later the same day, there was a close call between Kilara Rhythm winning a Nottingham A2 in 30.04 and Magical Flash winning the A1 in 30.14. We’ll give it to the latter on the basis of the calibre of the field – Bellmore Rossi was beaten five into second place – plus, Flash’s puppy status.

Doncaster staged a couple of hot A1s this week. Debbie Calvert’s Maree Poacher, marked ‘awkward’ just three races earlier, did nothing wrong when beating Lightfoot Tereza by just under two lengths in 29.49. However, kennel mate My Boy Blue went even quicker on Saturday with a 29.47 run.

Perry Barr was running +20 on Saturday afternoon in race three, but by the time Gavins Rocco landed the A1, it was -20. (Intermittent rain heavy at times”). That’s six wins and two seconds in his last eight.

Harlow punters witnessed ‘FOY’ performances over both four and six bends on Wednesday. What’s more, Lamorna Ollie and Tinks Boy were bettering their own previous best runs. On balance though, a 26.03 for the 415, trumps a 38.09 for the 592. Or does it?

Droopys Hooray and Hardy Rebel have both featured in this column in recent weeks. Both won Newcastle A1s on Wednesday, Hooray in 28.66, Rebel in 28.74. Close but not cigar! Step forward Tom Heilbron’s Little Seven with a 28.62 on the same card.

The Pelaw POW was altogether more clear cut. Ex Central Park D1 runner Bellmore Chief finished top dog for the second time in a month with the week’s only sub26.00 run. Meanwhile another former CP hound, Kitmins Maggie was the outstanding performer at Kinsley with a 27.75 run for the 462 metres.

On the subject of 462s, the ‘top’ Yarmouth A1 took place on Wednesday night when Spicuzza attempted to defend his title. The bookies didn’t think he could and made Shelone Milo the 7-4f. They were right and four spots quicker than the Kinsley equivalent!

The loss of Friday’s racing – and opens – due to the extreme heat gives the graded runners a chance to shine. So a moment in the spotlight for the dependable Moorstown Victor with a 24.08 A1 win earlier in the week – that was race no. 87.

There was a distinct lack of open race action on Sunday night with Central Park and Swindon producing all-graded cards. With nothing having broken 28.70 for the standard trip at Swindon, the POW was still destined to be produced in the last meeting of the week. So it proved with Jim Scapha (28.46) putting his name in the frame only to be jocked off by A2 winner Lost Shadow in 28.42. Interestingly, John Campbell’s dog just about pushes the scales needle to 28.3kg. But his PB of 28.21 was achieved when he was a ‘bitchlike’, 27.9kg

The CP bar had been set at 29.58 by A2 winner Clonkeen Ziggy. It too was under fire on Sunday and was bettered three times with Emers Romeo – back in graded company pulling up the night’s fastest run of 29.14 on going rated -10.

Going was an even bigger factor at Henlow. Five winners broke 28.00 on an ideal Saturday track. None on the drenched Sunday course where 28.12 was quickest. As for Saturday, a marginal decision – and hand-timed at that – went to Richard Devenish’s prolific Lunar Prince.

Finally, something of a bizarre one. Bombardier stretched his recent Monmore record to 7:8 win when returning odds at 10-30f. He will therefore get the Wolverhampton nomination. But there is so much more to the race than the result alone. Check out the runner-up, Lemming Extra (T5)!