BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

We start with the exceptional performance of Smallmead in the RPGTV St.Leger from Perry Barr. Two point in relation to the winner. Firstly, despite generously John diverting the praise to the brilliant physio George Drake, it was the trainer who got her over the line. Secondly of course, it is worth noting that, despite her re-naming, Smallmead is yet another product of a champion factory in Ballymacelligott in Kerry.

Patrick Janssens’ handling of Kilara Lion was no less impressive, his best run since the East Anglian Derby Final added the Kent version to his portfolio and a shot at Greyhound of the Year.

But what of the McNairs winner’s factory in Kent and the great training feat with Queen Dolly? Four in a row including an unbeaten run through the British Breeders Stakes, AND the forecast in the final with litter brother King Louis (and the sprint final too).

At Romford, acknowledgement must be made of the excellent 34.93 run of Sparta Master (from T5), though the nomination has to go to Swift Tarquin on making a Category One final in his 108^th race. (Please refer to the previous quote about Ian Greaves breeding them tough).

On the subject of ‘old boys’, who put the open racers in their place at Hove on Saturday night? We are talking Stuart Maplesden’s five year old Punkrock Rambo, with a magnificent, 29.50.

At the opposite end of the scale is the 18 month old Harlow pup Headford Anna who clocked the fastest sprint of the month in only her second race. Beautifully bred too!.

The next big puppy event on the agenda is the Star Sports English Puppy Derby at Towcester and Cold As Ice laid down a marker with a 29.43 run in a trialstake on Sunday.

This time last week it would have been short odds that the fastest run of the week at Swindon would have come in the Oaks first round. The weather ruled that out, though British bred Zaha’s 28.26 in A1 wasn’t too shoddy.

The best sprint of the week though just might have been Balidaniel Tadhg’s 15.85 run at Kinsley. Only Roxholme Hat has ever gone quicker.

Julie Luckhurst’s Wicky Mike is long overdue a mention, and completed a recent four-timer. His overall Crayford record now stands at eight wins from ten starts. While Sue Watson’s Kilara Way retains the selection at Doncaster by extending his winning sequence to five (948-1 acca). Meanwhile Kilara Montjeu, who was running D2 at ’Donny’ until a month ago, has made a great transfer to Sunderland winning A2 and A1 in his first two outings. (That’s a treble on the table for ‘the Kilara man’, Kilkenny based Phil O’Keeffe.) Dingle Pub was himself a former A1/A2 runner at Sunderland prior to lockdown. This week he produced his best run to date at Sheffield when winning at A3 in 28.97.

25.77 was enough to earn the Pelaw nomination for a second consecutive week, this time it was accredited to Confident Vinson. Signature Finlay is probably only the third string of a very decent litter, but has won opens and gets the Henlow nod on the back of a 27.51 run in A2.

Monmore held their Track Championship finals on Saturday with mentions due for both Agent Harvey (630) and Butlers Blake (264), though the nod has to go to Daddys Prince (480), running over a distance short of his best.

If Yarmouth were to stage a Track Championship, Montrose would be among the leading fancies. He has won three of his last four A1s including the best run of the last week, 28.07 (462).

The Newcastle selection Roaming Mystery went 14 races without a win but has picked up three of her last four including the top 480 of the week in 28.68 (-10).