BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Whatever happens going forward, the achievement of defending champ Deerjet Sydney in reaching the Towcester semi finals undefeated already put him in the category of ‘special Derby winners’. Pat Buckley’s hound has been as majestic on the new Derby course as he was on the old one. You cannot beat class!

While most attention will have been on Towcester over the last month, it is important to acknowledge the brilliant performance of Bo Shine Bullet at Crayford. When she missed her break and was KO’d in the Golden Jacket Final, the questions would have been asked ‘unlucky or unreliable’. Those questions disappeared with a wonderfully brave performance in the semi finals of the Kent St.Leger and Bullet’s status as a tenacious battler were confirmed when she landed the final. A mention too for Punk Rock Doll with the fastest 380 run in three years to take the Guys And Dolls Final.

Nottlngham have tried to boost their available graded strength with some Friday night opens and it was from meeting, not the regular Mondays, where Glenvale Gav produced the run of the week. On the same night, there were two comparable performances at Romford. Bonville Susie produced a very creditable 35.15 run for six bends, but we’ll shade it to AKP’s youngster Deanridge Smidge for a 23.76 (N) run over the 400m course.

Although Doncaster staged some Wednesday night opens, the best racing was probably the Sunday morning card which featured a series of high grade events. Sue Watson dominated them (6 winners on the day) landing A2s with puppy Santra Lando (30.21) and Kilara Lark (29.66). The nod though has to go to the marginally slower kennelmate Kilara Bugle. The veteran beat an A1 field included Ballymac Rocker and Glitter Gee in 29.68. The Pelaw Grange POW also went to a Watson, in this case, Colin Watson, with a successful defense of his title for Marinas Artist.

Monmore staged eight A1 events in the last week, but only one 28.40 A1. It was a long overdue win for the talented but unlucky Elderberry Janus – a 28.08 trialist who took 15 races to reach the winner’s circle. It was a similar theme at Newcastle – four A1 races but only one 28.43 run. It went to Tom Heilbron’s pup, Slangevar Tommy. While Perry Barr’s quickest winner came from the A3 grader Swift Launch.

The Sheffield selection is one based on time, but record. John Walton’s Enlighten has a proud race record of 4:4, returned at 9-4, 5-4, 7-4 and 11-4.

Yarmouth’s outstanding recent performer Native Flower hasn’t raced in the last week enabling former POW regular Jakes Magic to seize the initiative.

Prior to Sunday, Many Returns had won six of her last nine A1 outings at Sunderland. That can now be extended to seven from ten. Only four hounds have broken 26.00 at Harlow this year. Three of them met in A4 company on Wednesday where Hot Product came out on top. Nothing jumped off the clock at Kinsley this week but Highview Pet took sole control of the race leader board with the eighth success of 2021.

Henlow’s top A1 is a stand-out fixture in recent weeks. Everyone knows who the top dogs are, and at 9-4 the field, they represent graded racing at its best. The latest round saw Jimmy The Snail, Drumcrow Bruce and Jet Stream Socks all back in contention, with Rail McCoy winning for the third time in his last four.

Swindon staged two A1s this week – less than an hour apart. The best – by far – went to the heavyweight Ballymac Conti who made it three wins from his last four in the fastest 476m run of 2021 to date.

Central Park were due to stage eight opens on Sunday night but at the stage that the meeting was abandoned, the best performance was arguably Pilgrim Hill’s 29.33 (-40) run over the 480 course.

As for the Freeky Pumba v The Grader battle at Hove, let’s just say the racing office are looking for a white flag. 6:1.