Brookside Richie won the 2021 Cat One Juvenile Classic at Towcester, but the event featured a whole selection of comparatively unknown youngsters including Bellmore Sally, Blueberry Bullet, Trumps Benefit, Coolavanny Auntie, Bubbly Apache and Warzone Tom.
So there was plenty of interest in Sunday’s first round where Matt Dartnall’s Ivanexile further enhanced a growing reputation with the fastest heat win, 29.35. One point to note though, half of the 24 qualifiers, including Exile, are August whelps. A quarter are September whelps. Only one ‘21 pup made it through, Liz McNair’s King Ezra.
This week we feature the first 2021 whelp to appear on the chart, and it is far from a token nomination. Bellmore Cricket’s 30.12 in when winning a Nottingham A3 by eight lengths was faster than the night’s A1.
The next few weeks will be spent comparing four and six bend form at Hove and that is seldom simple. It was a tough call bypassing Ninja Kerry’s 30.09 (-20) for the 515 at Hove on Saturday. Top class. But Callmesteve is just one of those hounds whose combined track craft, bravery and speed will always make him a massive crowd pleaser. ‘Proper dogs’ break 41.50 for the 695m course. Giving lengths away in running, Steve did 41.87 (-15). Can’t wait for the Premier Racing Regency first round on Saturday.
There was also a very decent run by former Irish star Great Name That – one of a handful of dogs in the last couple of years to have broken 28.00 at Shelbourne Park – in a 684m contest at Monmore on Saturday. The FOY is Guiri Steve’s 41.42, so the 41.83 (-45) run from Gary Griffiths’ dog is worthy of note. A good run too from Sigent Ace on the night, 28.60 (-30) for the 480, as he edges ever closer to his best form.
Sticking with the stayers format, the next selection is at Pelaw – yes really! The track staged its first 590m event since December and it went to 16-1 shot Cornforth Pistol. Although only A4 over four bends he turned over the 25.75 four-bend runner Diego Rango in a decent 36.83.
Yet one more bite at the stayer’s cake and the ongoing battle between Peacock Patsy and Droopys Sputnik for 682m supremacy at Swindon. Going into Sunday night’s third leg, it was 2-1 in favour of the Gresham trained Patsy. As it turned out, they were both thwarted by Sputnik’s kennelmate Lights Out. The 2020 Produce Stakes Finalist led home Sputnik with Patsy back in third. Her winning time was 42.32. Patsy’s two wins were in 42.42 and 42.32, Sputnik’s winning time was 42.42.
Frankie Jet’s 28.97 might not seem too rapid but he was considerably quicker than the other Sheffield 500 metre opens on Tuesday in a field included Boardwalk Buster and Toast of Sydney.
There might be a bit of sentiment involved but how could we look past Sparta Master, just a month short of his fifth birthday when beating recent POW Jewel Of Madonna at Harlow? Staying with the sprightly pensioners, there was also a fabulous run from the oldest and best hurdler in training, Nomansland Flyer who was quicker than most of the flat runners with a 23.53 run in H1 at Crayford.
Don’t think we have ever had two hurdle recipients in the same week. But Borna Rhythm’s 29.62 for the Central Park jumps course was recorded on -30 when neither of the night’s A3 winners could break 30.00.
Suffolk Downs track record holder Saffrons Dash had missed his break in his next two outings. Despite some early bumping, the Wallis runner once again showed that he has pace to spare with a 23.73 win on Friday- 18 spots off his PB but still the fifth fastest clocking over c&d.
There is a very good argument to say that kennelmate Rail McCoy deserves the Romford selection for a fabulous return to form on Friday night, a 23.97 400m run in his first race since his Golden Sprint win. However, on balance, it has to go to Frank Gray’s Makeit For Waz for a 34.98 run – only Coolavanny Aunty has gone quicker this year, and completing an open race four-timer in the process.
It was a good week for defending champs this week, but Jimmy Gaskin’s puppy Crouchs Princess arguably stepped up to another level with the joint fastest 483 of the year at Doncaster, 29.33.
Jill Sutherst’s slightly older youngster Witton Razl also franked the form at Newcastle. Don’t be fooled by the time – 28.74 (-10), set against her previous, 28.35. The British bred showed tremendous tenacity to overcome bumping and fifth place to seize the win – and it was still the fastest time of the week! That’s four wins and a second in five races to date – all opens – and she is now contesting all-aged company.
Another lady in form was Pat Rosney’s Bower Pat – well we say ‘in form’. . . .she was one spot slower than her A1 win last week! Unless we take going allowances into account, in which case she was time finding.
At Kinsley, Glenvale Gav dug deep to retain his A1 title. He has now won four of his last five races, an A2, two A1s and a 650m open. That sole defeat, by just over a length, was in a D1 sprint!
With the Bresbet East Anglian Derby not so far away, Irene Barnard will have been delighted with the fastest 462 of the year recorded by Come Asyouare, 27.59 (+30). But then, Paul Whitwood might have had a claim with his 20 month old King Elvis pup, Swift Loves who got to within a neck of the winner and just missed out on a four-timer.
Henlow’s sole A1 produced the tightest finish of the week, d-ht, hd, ½, hd, though not the quickest. That went to four length A4 winner We All Matter.
There was a ‘time v consistency’ debate at Sunderland. Stranger Things has won five of his last seven A1s and clocked 27.04 last week. Then 29.27 Clonmel winner Dublinhill Turbo, only two races into his Sunderland career, clocked 26.99, also in A1, and just half an hour later. (Big breath) – Its got to be Dublinhill Turbo, unless the grader can sort out a title eliminator!
