Hove will dominate Saturday nights for the next couple of weekends almost guaranteeing a series of comparisons between performances in the Olympic and Ballyregan/Curtis Memorial. Although Space Jet took another leap forward on Saturday in her second race after a lay-off, we are just going to edge it to Fromposttopillar following a 30.01 (-20) run for the 515m. That is his first race in all-aged company and the ninth race of his career – eight wins.
Savana Ruinart might have been considered unlucky not to be the Crayford selection after landing last week’s Gold Collar Final. But she was ‘unignorable’ this week following a track record run for Oxford’s 650m in the heats of the Bet365 Challenge Cup – five spots quicker than Havana Lover’s previous best.
Although Rail McCoy was a spot slower than Nathan Hunt’s Romford Friday card, the Golden Sprint winner was competing in a higher calibre race that featured last week’s Romford POW, Droopys Good.
Of all the ‘hounds in form’ there won’t be many in better nick than March On Larry who retains his Newcastle POW title from last week with a 28.68 (-20) open race win. That’s four in a row for Angela Harrison’s All England Cup hopeful. Staying in the North East, there won’t have been many sub 27.20 graded wins at Sunderland in 2022, but Rattling West did just that with a 27.18 six length victory in A2.
Two of the three Sheffield Tuesday opens were won by British breds with the most impressive being the locally reared and schooled, Acomb Johnny. That’s open success for four of the litter to date.
But Johnny isn’t the youngest on the table. That honour goes to Angie Kibble’s Eze who made it 2:2 with his second open race win at Swindon on Sunday night. Forget the time, his race sectionals have been two lengths short of his qualifying trials. Just wait until he traps!
There was a huge temptation to make last week’s Central Park top performer, Juarassic Rose, the Crayford nomination this week following her fifth straight open race win on Saturday morning. But how do you oppose Ritzys Spirit whose 33.99 wasn’t only the fastest of the year over the 540m hurdle course, it was only three spots slower than the quickest open race winner on the flat!
But there is acknowledgement for Rose’s veteran kennelmate Springwell Telly who finished fourth when the pair last met in a Central Park 642m open. On Sunday night, Tony Collett’s 31 kilo black became the most senior name on this week’s table when she clocked the fastest time of the night in a rain sodden (-50) A2.
There was a very decent run by the POW regular Front Move at Harlow on Wednesday, but he is edged out by Headford Jem with the third fastest 592 of the year.
No matter how many ‘A1s’ some tracks run, certain races stand out as the obvious destination of the POW award even before they have been run. Suffolk Downs tend to run stage their top event on a Thursday. This week’s was virtually an ‘all winners’ event including the ‘defending champ’ Romeo Express, plus Olivetree Deano, Riverdale Uisce, Newtown Pongo, and Sharky Jezabelle.
The only ‘POW virgin’ was Paul Rea’s Glenside Marco. Not any more. Interestingly, Marco had finished last in four consecutive A2s before his trainer restored his confidence with a solo trial. He has been fully rewarded with three wins in his last four outings, A3, A2, A1.
Yarmouth staged seven A1s though the one featuring the prolific open racer Super Nova always looked the hottest. In a field that included two kennelmates, most notably the reigning Performer of the Week, Swift Raisin, the GAIN Maiden Vase finalist was clearly at a different level on the night.
Savana Raven, who finished half a length in front of Nova in the same Oxford final also returned to his home track fresher for the experience. Jason Bloomfield’s Henlow regular was an easy winner of Sunday’s A1 in a smart, 27.58.
A fortnight ago Romeo Command was the Monmore Performer of the Week after a 27.82 run in the heats of a maiden competition. He won the final two – though was overshadowed by Antigua Sugar’s brilliant six bend time. A week on and the Firmager/Janssens combo are back flying after a sensational run in the RPGTV English Puppy Derby first round.
The Maiden runner-up, Mirrenofpaisley was made favourite to land an exceptionally good A1 on Saturday night. But it also featured Champion Stakes finalist Aero Squeak who produced the week’s outstanding display in a mere 28.29 seconds.
Doncaster staged three A1s this week, but everyone knew that the best of the trio – putting aside any going allowances – was always going to be on Sunday’s race which featured Barnside Millie, going for an A1 four-tiimer and Starcash Henry (4-6f), a winner of his last open and A1 over course and distance. On a heavy track, it went to the fragile Henry who was contesting just his eighth race in ten months.
You can always spot Kinsley’s best race of the week, it will have Glenvale Gav in it. Having been beaten in last week’s A2, Sylvia Oakes veteran was out to retain his crown. It didn’t happen though. Byrnoffas Bob, who last featured in this column back in August, won second race back after a break in the only sub 28.00 run this week.
No A1s at Perry Barr but a couple of A2s of the quick the quickest was Simon Deakin’s Sometimenow with a 28.70 (-10). The quickest winner though was Drahbeg Dusty with a 28.69 (+10) in A3.
Few tracks run more consistently to their grade than Pelaw where the A1 winner invariably clocks the fastest time of the week. Not so last week where Zuzus Petals clocked 25.59 in A3. The grader seemed unimpressed and move her up just one grade to A2. Despite a rain sodden track, Chris Harker’s 5-2 chance clocked 26.93 (on a very conservatively rated -50), with the A1 winner recording 26.96. So Petals 2 – Grader 0.
Last Monday’s Nottingham card featured the semi finals of the PGR Eclipse where Distant Podge made it seven wins in nine races. Could the Puppy Classic winner really make it two Cat Ones in just 10 career races later tonight?
