BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

It was all about Tuesday! At Towcester, Bockos Jon Jo completed a five-timer including two Cat 1 finals and a track record when landing the Northamptonshire Sprint. Meanwhile at Sunderland, Blue Tick George won his Grand Prix semi by 13 lengths when setting a new 640m track record (on normal going) – two spots quicker than Autumn Tiger’s previous best set on (+50) in 1995. (For those whose memories aren’t up to it, Sue Brunt’s runner also twice broke the Sheffield 660 clock and also held the 800m record).

The major race action resumed on Thursday for the semi finals of the Laurels where puppy Havana Class was one spot quicker than Candy Man. As for that early pace, it has been seen before in a son of World Class. Ask Seamus Cahill about it.

13.44 for the 225m Romford sprint is a decent enough time for Bubbly Cain, but he gets the vote in acknowledgement of the kennel’s perseverance in what was only his 18^th race in 20 months.

There was no stand-out performance at Nottingham last week with Geelo Love just edging matters with a 41.60 run for the shorter six bends.

Normal service was resumed at Yarmouth with one hound picking himself with the only sub 28.00 run this week, Adamant Rumble. That’s four wins in his last five outings for Jane Craske’s blue. There was similarly only one sub 28.00 runner for Kinsley’s identical trip, Glenvale Amy.

The Crayford selection was a coin toss between the 23.24 (380) from Fire Spark and the 33.79 (540) from Killeacle Alfie. It has to go to the latter with Gemma Davidson’s black on the point of being ungradeable following a hugely impressive four-timer (6-4, 5-2, 6-5, 2-5). Monmore’s Daddys Prince has long been in the ‘cant find a race for him over six bends’ grade for a long time. He still gets the occasional open race opportunity though and seldom misses out. A lovely greyhound!

Last week’s Hove selection Brutus Bullet was beaten in a Saturday night A1 by Walletbuster Ray in 29.56. But he gets edged out by Absolute Boy who did a 29.54 in the other top heat. A4 winner Coney Wonderland clocked the fastest 500 of the week at Sheffield, also on Saturday. But we are giving the nod to Swift Woof, who although one spot slower, was plying his trade in A1.

Newcastle have staged five A1s in the last week with four won between 28.74 and 28.81. Quickest of them all, and retaining his title for a second consecutive week. . . we give you. . . .Haaardy Rebel!

Some cracking racing at Doncaster every Sunday. This week was a belter though with Bohemian Bruno rattling up a 27.60 run for the 450m. But the star of the show was Glitter Gee. Debbie Calvert has been a great addition to the graded strength and none of her team has performed better than the ex-Newcastle A1 runner who is loving the big circuit. His recent record is five wins and three seconds in his last eight races including a 29.52 FOY run for the standard.

Indian Trump is Harlow’s most prolific runner on this chart and he now appears three times among the ten fastest returns over the 415 course this year. Bernard set out to retain his title at Swindon on Sunday but was turned over by kennelmate Droopys Dime in the fastest time of the night. While at Central Park on Sunday, Samanta West’s converted sprinter Ballynabee Lucky – who ran Shrewd Call to half a length in the Coral Sprint Final – came from behind to win a 480m open in the fastest time of the night on going rated -30.

Finally, a stunning 27.11 run for the journeyman open racer Jet Stream Socks. In the last three and a half years, only track record holder Forest Chunk (26.98) and Maiden Derby winner Roxholme Olaf (27.02) have gone quicker.