BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

The biggest meeting of the week at Monmore produced top class racing over four and six bends and the quickest two winners share top spot, Queen Jessiej and Bubbly Dave. The McNair kennel also supplied the quickest of the British Bred Oaks heat winner Queen Franklin at Doncaster.

Among the other open race winners of note are Bower Luke, winner of the fastest Derby Trialstake at Nottingham on Monday. While at Romford, Deanridge Kane prepared for the Champion Stakes with a 35.29 run for 575m.

It may not have been an open, but Swift Cope’s 27.50 graded win at Yarmouth was only bettered once last year, by East Anglian Derby winner Roxholme Nidge. While at Towcester, despite the sprint opens, grader Plain White Tea has to be recognised for the joint third fastest 500 to date since the circuit was relaid.

There was a tough call at Crayford where the track’s finest are engaging in a series of sweepstakes over four different distances. On balance, quickest 540 winner Could Be King gets the nod. Tougher still at Harlow where the three quickest winner were split by four spots, headed by Octagon Sulos in a comparatively moderate 26.21. Similarly not many quick runs at neighbouring Henlow, a 27.64 is good enough to get Murlens Henry a mention.

The Baggios are flying at Perry Barr and ‘Magic’ is replaced by ‘Gem’ this week. Meanwhile at Kinsley, ex-Belle Vue A3 runner Barbistown Luke produced the fastest 462 run of the week. At Hove, only one winner broke 29.00 for the 500m course during the last seven days, Mineola Hardy. You will always be in with a chance of a Sunderland nomination with a sub 16.00 sprint, hence Vinegarhillkatie.

Among the younger runners is Geelo Gold Dust with the fastest Sheffield sprint in the last week for three wins and two seconds in her last five outings.

At the opposite end of the scale is Newcastle veteran Ballymartin Hero who clocked his fastest 480 since last November. Swindon’s Shady Marvin was in the form of his life prior to lockdown and it took six races back to look back to his best – the sixth fastest 476 of the year, 28.13.

No one could deny Pelaw Grange best top heat winner Ferndale Jet his chance in the spotlight with only his second win in his last 25 races.

As for the performance of the week – can anybody even begin to argue with Affleck Lady (again)? She was four in January, is waiting to come into season, but has one defeat in her last five opens – a neck in the final of the Regency. On Sunday at Central Park, where her brother Affleck Bolt (now a house pet) holds the 642m clock of 39.33 (N), Lady recorded 39.85 on going rated -20.

Another resilient British bred BTW!