BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Some great performances during the week including three track records last Tuesday at Towcester. But heading the poll must surely be Jaguar Macie’s victory in her final juvenile competition, the Northern Puppy Derby at Newcastle. It was a great testament to Macie’s ability to come from behind as well as leading from the front and significant evidence that Graham Rankin is clearly as good with a pup as he was with a putter.

(The following night Westway Blake [4^th] franked Macie’s Ladbrokes Puppy Derby form when taking the top trialstake for the Laurels at Perry Barr.)

Sunday night featured more opens including the Cearnsport Springbok decider at Central Park where Droopys Rex – who once went 15 races without a win, showed himself a model of consistency with a fifth straight victory.

So how do you separate the Towcester trio of clocks? Bockos Jon Jo was a spot inside the old sprint clock. Aayamza Royale was 70 spots quicker than Affirmed’s previous best, though the going allowances worked 80 spots in the latter’s favour. Instead we’ve allowed sentiment to slip in and give it to local S1 runner Blue Mischief. Any hound going quicker than Smallmead over course and distance has to be taken seriously, albeit on favourable going. What is particularly pleasing though is that Richard Devenish’s blue has risen all the way from Peterborough A7/A8.

There was a similar conundrum separating three Nottingham winners on Monday. Veteran Plaza Lep got to within his own 2020 FOY for the Colwick 480m course. Jimmy Fenwick’s Barnagrane Amber turned over Salacres Pippy to complete a hat-trick in the quickest 730 in two years. But we’ve edged it to puppy Bettys Book. Her 500m run of 29.42 over the Derby course was also her third in a row and she was 57 spots quicker than the night’s next fastest 500 winner.

Briefly returning to the subject of course records, Kevin Hutton’s Droopys Mansion ran to within a spot of Southfield Bea’s 649m track record at Swindon on Sunday night.

Sticking with the open race theme, Desperado Dan was a penalty kick for the Romford nomination having completed a four-timer in the fastest heat of a 575m competition. Friday’s final will be career race 99 – and he has trap one! At Sunderland, Tom Heilbron’s Little Venture clocked the fastest 450 in 21 months. Another for the future is surely Mark Wallis’ exciting youngster Antigua Socks who landed Henlow’s quickest A1 of the week in 27.50.

There is a bit of a formula to selecting the outstanding performance at Yarmouth each week. Which Ian Greaves bred dog was the only runner to break 28.00? Last week it was Swift Lacerate in 27.92. This week, another Greaves bred son of Candlelight King, Swift Acquit.

At Harlow it’s the 26.00 barrier that sets that standard. Front Society, a half sister to Mashmad Eyebrows, did it with something to spare and a new FOY for the 415.

In recent weeks the Hove selections have generally featured on the A1s. But with Fancy A Pint clocking the fastest sprint this year and Slippy Eva doing something similar over the 695m course, it is almost impossible to split them. They have both won three or their last five but will edge it to Seamus Cahill’s pup who clocked 41.91, when the other races were won in 42.73, 42.83, 42.84 & 42.89.

The Sheffield A1 also gets a swerve, in this case to acknowledge the fastest sprinter (and puppy) Easy George.

At Monmore though we’ll revert back to the standard distance and Strategic Lenson completed a hat-trick of A1 races for Paul Sallis in a sharp 28.39 (-20). Gartcloss Diego only made one graded appearance at Monmore but four kilos heavier, he produced the fastest run of the week at Pelaw Grange.

Jimmy Gaskin will fancy a few open race sorties this summer after Santro Duke produced the fastest Doncaster 483 run in the last six months. The dog with 28.55 (525) and 29.72 (550) form at Dundalk posted a strong running 29.57 (-10) at Donny.

With nothing to impress clock watchers at Kinsley, we’ve selected the track’s most prolific winner of the year, Copeland Blitz who has now won six of her 13 races outings. A tenner invested on each of them would have you in profit to a tune of £112.08.

Nor were there any spectacular times at Crayford this week, so we have gone for the ‘most improved performance’ route and A8 grader Melbury Apollo. Jason Heath will be thrilled with his British bred pup but it would have been an interesting chat with the grader. Three trials, 24.58, 24.42, 24.41. Bang 23.49 (+20)!

Only kidding, Apollo was a puppy on debut for God’s sake and was returned at 7-2! Crack on!