BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Signet Ace lost the toss of a coin last week, and Coolavanny Banni might be considered unlucky this week, but Kevin Hutton’s Gold Cup semi winner is long overdue another accolade with the Monmore Performance of the Week. (Ace’s first headline came after his very first qualifying trial.)

It is actually a year today since the son of Forest Natalee made his open race debut, and like many of the ‘Covid generation’ the Sep ’18 whelp is still lightly raced; next Saturday’s final will be his 25^th race. He has won half of the first two dozen and four of his last five over course and distance (28.08, 28.07, 28.11, 28.08).

Towcester featured two heats of the Stadium Bookmakers Marathon, and considering she is reckoned not to like the place, Aayamza Royale lowered her own 942m track record by 25 spots when confirming her superiority over Savana Volcano.

While Bubbly Apache made the Nottingham headlines on Monday, we can’t ignore the claims of Churchill Holly with a 28.22 run for the 480 metres. It was the fifth fastest time ever over course and distance.

Harlow continued with their open race programme. Pick of the bunch was David Mullins’ Troy Suzieeq with the third fastest 592 of the year. Incidentally, the six fastest times (and 11/13) were all recorded by females. The following night, connections were also on the mark at Perry Barr with a 28.61 run for Troy Firebird.

Romford’s reigning POW Florican Trend won again on Friday, but we’ll give the nod to yet another Mullins runner, Waste House Izzy who beat a tougher field, including Seaglass Smokey and Doolin Princesss, to take a six bend stayers final.

Was Crayford the toughest the decision or the week? To swerve Punk Rock Doll’s 23.20 (380) run, and Ragtime Storm’s 33.82 (540) beating a good class field and go with Moaning Matrix’s 33.83 run? Having looked destined to spend the remainder of his career in A4 at Harlow, Darren Whitton’s white and black – just four months off his fifth birthday – has been a revelation since his change of track.

At least the Crayford decision seemed tough until we looked at Sheffield. With the Gain Nutrition Three Steps due to close next week, we were expecting some sizzling runs. It didn’t quite work out that way but credit to another ex-Harlow A4 runner Lemming Caesar for a 28.89 (-10) open race win over the 500.

No – officially the toughest call of the week was to swerve the opens at Doncaster and focus on the track’s sole A1, contested by the week-in, week-out top heat runners. In fact it was so close that we neither we, nor the judge, could split the dead-heaters Nolas Beauty and Kilara Bugle.

And in the week of the announcement of a new sponsor for the 75^th East Anglian Derby, Erica Samuels local Offshore Falcon took the opportunity to clock the fastest standard distance time of the year. Kinsley’s fastest 462m run went to the prolific Cloneen Alba with a 27.67 run. It was his ninth win of the year (with Highview Matilda). Only Highview Pet (10) has won more.

At Hove, Doorus Jet rattled up the joint third fastest time of the year with a 29.19 run in A1.

What do you get if you cross a Buick with a Saab? The Newcastle Performance of the Week. Droopys Hooray clocked the best time of his career when landing an A1 in 28.53 (-10). The Mackems were also cheering home a Buick pup. Find Out has had to slog his way around from the back of the handicaps but a rare outing of levels saw him post a career best 27.17 run.

Sunday produced its fair share of quality performances. Marinas Artist was last weeks Pelaw star with a 26.00 run. He returned at 4-6f with his fourth win in his last five outings at the track. Winning time 25.87.

Headford Flash won what is likely to be the first of many opens at Swindon on Sunday night. But we’ll give the vote to the journeyman Distant Move who turned over Southfield Code in the 670m final in 42.18.

Henlow’s reigning track champ Layton Shrek was looking to extend his winning sequence to five, but back over four bends was turned over by Tricia Jezabelle is a PB of 27.39. While at Central Park, Jim Reynolds’ Maiden Derby semi finalist Ritzy Flyer returned from a lay-off in excellent fitness to close the fastest run of the week, 29.18 (-30).