BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

It has been a great year for David Mullins given the remarkable exploits of Tenpin and Shrewd Call in particular. Now, we can add to that the name of Kilmessan Puma, winner of his first Cat 1 final at the age of four years and four months, in race number 103.

The Nottingham selection was a tough call with Feather Breeze clocking the fastest sprint of the year. That was overshadowed though by the locally bred Riley Ray with the fastest 680 time in seven years, and just six spots outside the track record.

A tighter call still at Monmore with Daddys Prince and Signet Ace both in the running following Saturday’s opens. The nod though has to go to Antigua Fire with a 41.12 (-20) run for the 684m. There were also opens over three distances at Newcastle, with Little Emir’s 28.66 (-20) the pick of the bunch.

There is seldom a week go by with a ‘King’ or ‘Queen’ on the list. This week it is King Drake with his fastest clocking in the opening round of the British Bred Derby at Sheffield. The ‘Goldies’ is another popular prefix and this week’s Central Park nomination was between Goldies Greaves’ and (a dog named after a diving French shampoo salesman), ‘Ginola’. The nod goes to the former following a very decent staying performances on Sunday night 40.13 (-45).

Local hero Southwood Jet made his first racing appearance since the Derby Final on Saturday at Hove and recorded the quickest first round run of the Olympic.

A 23.18 run would be good enough for the Crayford nomination more times than not, even more so when the run comes from a 22 month old pup in only her third race – Bit View Eva.

The recently arrived Mister Milch had struggled to win a race in Ireland but in his first six races at Perry Bar has three wins and two seconds including the stand-out 480 of the week. Veteran Fridays Cantona began his career at Perry Barr, ran A2, went to Belle Vue and ran A1 and is now knocking out A2s at Doncaster including the best race of the last week.

Moaning Matrix only won his last Harlow A4 by a neck, but the 26.04 was the best of the week. Kilbarry Sharper is another recent Irish import who has hit the ground running – first two races at Sunderland, wins in A2 and A1.

The Yarmouth veteran Swift Nando doesn’t get the nod on fast times, but on becoming the most prolific winner at the track in 2020 with his ninth victory. Kinsley selection Crokers Jet combined a bit of both speed and consistency, a recent 27.78 run and five wins in his last eight outings.

The weather has played a big role this week with no sub-26.00 performances at Pelaw Grange. In fact, the best run of the week was a 27.03 from Jumeirah Master.

Towcester’s abandoned Sunday meeting nevertheless gave Nipsey Hustle his opportunity to shine for the Weatherall kennel. It hasn’t been a great week for Henlow either with kennel sickness and fog reducing the number of races. Pick of the week, Layton Legend for a six length win in B1.

Finally, the swansong for the brilliant Velvet Juliet in her final race, a fastest first round run in the Oaks.