BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

A second appearance for Droopys Addition who lowered his own unofficial track record at Hove, while half brother Roman Empire gets the nod at Romford. Although beaten half a length on the clock by Sparta Master, it was a remarkable run for a dog running with screws in a formerly broken hock.

Micks Little Gem was some way off King Kane’s 55.58 track record for Sheffield’s 915m with a 56.17 run, though that reduces to 19 spots with going allowance taken into account.

Perhaps the unluckiest dog not to make the chart this week is Kevin Seville’s Winter, with a career best 16.03 for the Kinsley sprint. He was pipped to the post by puppy kennelmate Glenvale Amy with a 27.72 run over the standard. Or it might be Angela Harrison’s 28.65 winning pup Droopys Catch, who is nudged out by Steve Anderson’s even younger Morpeth Lad who completed a four-timer with an A1 win in 28.73.

Almost finally, a mention for the remarkable Southfield Bea whose nine length Saturday night win in A1 at Swindon might not have been noticed outside the West Country but is exactly what this page is about. Paul Foster’s black was a single spot outside Cadburys Hero’s track record. In 2019, Bea was the fastest performer over the old 509m course, and also quickest over the new 514m and 649 metres.

And absolutely finally, Ballyoak Badger with the only sub-27.00 run at Poole this year, some 22 months after giving birth to the first litter of Dorotas Wildcat pups.