BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

He has already been mentioned in dispatches but surely nobody could dispute Signet Ace’s 28.22 (-20) A1 win on debut as the leading British performance of the week.

In terms of the classiest race of the week, that can surely only be the Central Park Super A1 won by King Sheeran in 28.84. Yarmouth’s outstanding pup Notouttheway made the chart for a second consecutive week, this time for his effort over two bends. Hove’s Fosburys Jump also retained his top slot for a second week with a second consecutive A1 victory.

Crayford’s Fredie The Man looks like a pup we will be hearing a lot more about after clocking the quickest 380 so far this year. At the other extreme is Honour Goldikova who is a week away from her fourth birthday but won one the best Nottingham A1s since the return.

The narrowest winner of the award is Perry Barr heavyweight (37.5kg) Affirmed, who headed a three-way A1 photo finish by a short head in 28.53. The Kinsley call was also a tough one. Pro Princess produced the middle distance run of the week, though the locally bred Acomb Winston with a 16.10 for the sprint, can’t wait for the return to four bends.

At Doncaster, the ‘Barnside’ litter have been flying for Sean Parker. Last week Barnside Rio took the nomination, on Monday Barnside Lottle won by eight lengths in 28.08, but Rio was beaten by sister Barnside Betty in a very respectable 27.80 (450).

At Harlow, Moaning Matrix extended his most recent run to nine wins for his last 13 races (and three 2nds) – and he was returned at 5-2!.

Justins Destiny clocked the fastest Sunderland sprint of 2020 to date, though the 15.88 run would only put him in tenth place for last year. Staying in the North East, Droopys Carat is a converted sprinter though he held on well enough to win a decent quality A1 in 28.65.

At Sheffield, the honour of being the first to break 29.00 for the 500 metre course since lockdown went to A3 winner Zero To Flash. The Romford nomination goes to a bitch who was unlucky to miss out last week, Martyn Wiley’s Bebas Demon, winner of the first two S1s staged since lockdown, and within four spots of each other.

At Henlow, the fastest time of the week was recorded in A5 grade by Partners Roisin with a 27.57 run while at sister track Towcester, Ivy Hill Skyhigh produced the fastest 500 on Sunday, though great credit to Sheldan who was only 21 spots slower on a trip at least 200 metres short of her optimum.

The same could have been said about another Crayford specialist, the 2015 Golden Jacket winner Wiki Waki Woo whose daughter Emotional produced easily the best run of the week, and her career to date, at Swindon.

Last week’s Pelaw POW Helens Bay had to defend her title on Sunday but had it snatched by the double A1 winner Owley Gunner. All to play for in a week’s time.