BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Only one place to start – a track record over the English Derby course for Priceless Jet with a run of 29.11. Out of interest, nearly 80 runners went quicker over the old 500m course so we can surely expect some sub-29.00 performances in the coming weeks.

Last week we noted that Aayamza Royale had “left several lengths on the track” when she set a new 900m record. She left eight lengths less on Saturday with a flying 55.26 run

Denmark landed the British bred dual distance final at Sheffield on Tuesday night, though we have to swerve him in favour of Lemon Doug with a15.89 run. Only Referendum went quicker last year (15.83).

If ever a reminder was needed why the betting industry supports greyhound racing it was Wednesday night at Newcastle where the top three in the ante post betting for the Northern Flat all exited the competition. Instead the honours went to the veteran Velvet Juliet in 28.41. Quirky fact – of the 11 sub 28.50 times so far this year, eight of them were recorded by females.

With the George Ings St.Leger kicking off tonight we can expect to see stayers dominating the Yarmouth section for the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, nobody is going to argue with the week’s only sub 28.00 winner, Brynoffa Coco.

Perry Barr served up a very decent card on Thursday with pups Affane Buzz (28.78) and Easy Warrior (28.74) well worthy of mention, but we will edge it to the fastest hound on the night, Joes Jet (28.56).

Romford is between competitions at the moment and the standard of opens has dipped a little. Decent run from Knight of Merlin (35.47-575) and 19 month old Droopys Thief on Friday night though.

If we were compiling a list of serial POW nominations, you can bet that Dave Lee’s Antonella would be somewhere near the top of it. Having bulked up by nearly four kilos in the last six months, she has five wins in her last six races over Crayford’s standard trip in times of 23.12, 23.48, 23.13, 23.10 and 23.08.

Last week Tommys Pluto picked up the Hove vote with the fastest sprint of the year. Freeky Pumbaa was two spots slower on Thursday but it was still the second best 285 of the year in 16.14. Kinsley’s sprint is 17 metres less than Hove’s but 16.12 from puppy Kilaharry Best was the quickest run of the week.

Harlow has been running on the slow side in recent weeks, as best demonstrated by Millroad Glory being the only sub-26.30 in May to date. No such issues at Pelaw Grange, where Gartcloss Dakota became the fastest hound over the 435m course so far this year with a 25.75 run. At Sunderland, a 27.39 run was good enough to take the honours last week. But it took a 27.30 run from Abbys Dot Com to nail it this time around.

Henlow’s top performance came from youngster Antigua Littlun – don’t be fooled by the name, she is a strapping 29 kilo girl – in only the second race of her career. One for the notebook!

Choosing the Doncaster selection has developed into a Sunday lunchtime shoot-out. In the space of 90 minutes yesterday, the track’s outstanding middle distance runners were on show in four A2s and an A1. This week’s top heat saw Jimmy Gaskin finally get the better of ‘nan’ Sue Watson – though he did set out with three times as many runners! The star of the Gaskin trio was Ballymac Rocker. Same time next week?

Swindon have developed something similar where one open race stands out as the battle of the contenders. Not only did Ballymac Intent see off Bernard and Rodrick Rules, she did it in the first sub 28.00 performance of 2021.

What better place to conclude than with a unique POW first? On Monday, Tenpin, back in his favourite coloured jacket after an aborted Newcastle plan clocked 29.31, the fastest time over the Nottingham since the latter stages of the 2020 Star Sports/ARC English Derby. (Deerjet Sydney fastest of the year was of course, 29.15).

Then on Sunday, David Mullins’ runner completed a Performance of the Week double with a 28.89 (-20) win at Central Park.