As predicted, this week we would have to separate fabulous performances over four and six bends at Hove. After a lot of thought, and with due acknowledgement to Baggio Champ’s 41.78 (-30), it has to go to Havana Bale Out. With going allowance, Champ’s run is five spots off Chelms Cub’s FOY. But Bale Out’s 29.80 is the fastest over the 515m course since July last year and is in the ballpark – with -20 going – of Droopys Addition’s exceptional 29.59.

The spotlight will be on Monmore shortly with the Gold Cup and Stayers Classic on the agenda. There were fast runs over both distances on Saturday with Signet Ace progressing week on week back to his 28.08 (-20) form. But swerving his 28.30 run, we’ll go with the 38.03 victory from Antigua Hope. That’s five wins and two seconds from eight Monmore outings over three different distances.

The delayed Juvenile Classic second round took place at Towester where Kaluki repeated his first round win with another 29.57 run. Though perhaps just as noteworthy was Mark Wallis sending out all five runners in the last heat.

Witton Razl continued her fabulous run of form at Newcastle in the Angel Of The North but was outshone in Wednesday afternoon’s semi finals by Narcos Tata. DQ’d at a similar stage in the Northern Flat, Tata was then unlucky not to qualify from a very tough Derby second round heat and has been flawless in her two runs back at ‘Brough’.

On the subject of reformed characters, it was back in October 2019 when Nomansland Flyer let himself down in an open at Monmore. That was career outing 17. On Saturday Ricky Holloway’s veteran was successful in race 72, with a better than 1:3 strike rate. His 34.36 victory over the Crayford 540m hurdle course was within six lengths of the fastest 540m flat winner, though he does have a 33.98 on his card.

Yarmouth raider Jura Go Max added another Harlow victory to his increasingly impressive CV last Wednesday. He struggles when drawn in orange or stripes but is unbeaten in four attempts in the white jacket.

It has been a while since the pure sprinters appeared as the Romford representatives, but a new FOY for Kincora Beauty was the outstanding performance at London Road this week. That’s four wins in her last five for Martin Wiley’s blue, the only defeat coming in the ‘Kincora Beauty Hat Trick Race’.

Central Park staged one open this week which was won in 29.51 by Tribal Causeway in 29.51 (-20). But Paul Donovan’s Ragtime Grace won an A2 in identical time and gets the selection based on recent form. Four wins and three seconds from her last eight outings.

There were no opens at Nottingham this week but a fiercely competitive A1 won by Barry Denby’s 11-4 chance De Bumblebee with 6-1 kennelmate Penniment Keen a short head second. That’s a five-timer for the fawn.

Billis Hurricane’s last race win was at Perry Barr in January when he clocked 28.52 in open race company. Although Saturday’s A2 win was clocked at 28.94, it was certainly a step in the right direction after a frustrating series of lay-offs.

Nowhere was more badly hit by the heatwave than Suffolk Downs which lost two of its three meetings. So a fairly modest 24.37 gets the job done for A2 winner, Barnby Bruce. While at sister track Henlow, Savana Raven reminded punters that when he gets it right, he is a match for any at the track. Seven races ago he produced a 27.43 run. This week was a more modest 27.61.

Pelaw only ever get one meeting and this week the only sub 26.00 winner was Inniskeel Josie. That’s five wins in seven outings for the ex-Drumbo runner. While at neighbouring Sunderland, Forever Autumn extended his recent record to 5:8.

Yarmouth lost their Monday meeting, there was little of note on Wednesday but the flyweight Bakers Baby (25.5kg) landed consecutive A1s for Kevin Cobbold.

There will be no racing at Sheffield this week due to track renovations, and with last Tuesday’s opens being lost to the heatwave, it’s all down to A1 winner Cash Return with the fastest run of the week. Staying in Yorkshire, Ballymac Johnsie was unable to defend his A1 title at Doncaster, with Debbie Calvert’s Maree Poacher winning the week’s best race in 29.95. While Kinsley’s selection Outlier Boss picked himself with the week’s only sub-28 performance for the standard.

Elite Dan signed off the week with a 15.42 run for Swindon’s 262 metres, just a head short of Signet Mafia’s track record.