BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Four heat winners covered the Derby course in sub 29.10 but the quickest of them all was Bockos Belly with a 29.03 track record. He found 29 spots between the first and second rounds including seven for the sectional. In fact, it was only the third fastest time of the Derby to the halfway stage. Who went quicker? Check out ‘Mark Pierrepont’s Halfways’ later!

It was also a very busy night at Crayford where Punk Rock Doll recorded the second fastest 380 of the year. But she is just edged out with a great eight bend run by Alaskan Dawn, big brother of Perry Barr marathon record holder, Savana Volcano.

The Nottingham going allowances can be slightly misleading if you don’t understand that ‘N’ is not normal. Most of the time the allowances are assessed as ‘fast’. So Bellmore Sally’s 28.85 (480) is better than it first appears (she had clocked 29.71 for the 500m last time out on going rated +50 fast). Check out her age too!

Nor does clock tell the story for the Romford selection, Pennys Kai. A 35.28 run is decent but it was a fifth-to-first run for a hound that had previously gone box-to-beam over the Derby course in 29.57.

Doncaster’s Wednesday cards have been boosted with some decent quality opens and a track in great order. Notable performance of the week was from another quality pup, Happy Tally. The 35 kilo black, who is a ‘cousin’ of the likes of Ice On Fire and Candy Man, clocked the second fastest 483 of the year.

Trainer Jimmy Gaskin also picks up the Perry Barr nomination with Hather Daisy for a St.Leger class 710m win. Special mention for 20 month old Drahbeg Dandy with a 16.43 win over two bends short of his best. On the subject of sprinters, Newinn Bonner confirmed his status as top dog at Kinsley with the fastest 268m run since November.

The puppy theme continues with Viva Las Vegas, from the third litter sired by King Elvis out of Kelly Macari’s ex-Sunderland A2 winner Mill Patricia and the fastest semi final winner in the British Bred Maiden Derby at Newcastle. Meanwhile at Sunderland, Angela Harrison’s Moanteen Mikey clocked the fastest semi in the ARC Puppy Cup. While at neighbouring Pelaw Grange, another British bred pup, Pingoutaston turned over the reigning champ, Gortcloss Pamer.

On the graded front, Freeky Pumbaa makes his third POW appearance when three spots off his PB for the Hove 500m course. Chris Akers must be slightly rueful that Get It Now’s return to racing came a little too late or his near 38 kilo black might have been competing over Towcester’s 500 metres this week. A FOY 28.66 at Sheffield will be a great consolation. Of course, when it comes to patiently bringing dogs back from injury – Chris did learn from the master!

Two years and one week ago Rage Storm was beaten almost 20 length in her Clonmel debut by an ‘under the radar’ Skilful Sandy. Since then the Stuart Buckland trained black has established herself as a solid A1/S1 performer at Monmore. Her most recent win came in a very decent top grade staying race which she won with plenty to spare in 38.23 (-15).

Back on March 8, Roxys Teddy went to trap three in a Yarmouth A1, which he won in 27.83 (+10). He had his first A1 since then on Wednesday, ran from trap three, and won in 27.84 (+10).

The fastest Harlow clock of the week though appropriately arrived in the best grade, an A4, by the consistent Indian Trump in 26.40 (-40).

The best graded race of the week though surely goes to Henlow’s A1 on Sunday. The line-up with personal bests featured Jimmy The Snail (27.51) All About Taylor (27.29), Antigua Littlun (27.60), Rail McCoy (27.41), Drumcrow Bruce (27.49) and Jet Stream Socks (27.11). The winner in a thrilling finish was Mark Wallis’ puppy Rail McCoy.

Interestingly the Swindon A1 winner on the same night, Freffans Clinton, went quicker that the night’s sole open race winner, though we have to give the verdict to the latter, completing a four timer, Ballymac Intent.

Finally, Grand National winner Meenagh Maverick finally answered the question ‘what on earth would he do if he ever came away?’ The answer is 29.18 on .20 slow.