BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Coolavanny Aunty’s semi final win in the ARC Puppy Classic provided Nottngham’s top performance in the last week. It was the near 28 kilo bitch’s eighth win in 14 races, on four different tracks. Her fastest 500m performance to date was in a trial at Towester where she clocked 29.55.

With absolute respect to Russanda Silver’s connections in landing the British Bred Oaks in 30.07 at Doncaster, she was outshone by Jimmy Gaskin’s Bernard. Only Trumps Benefit – 29.42 – has gone faster over c&d this year. The British bred youngster now heads to Swindon where he could be a big player in the Produce Stakes.

Last week’s Harlow write-up suggested ‘what beats Indian Trump’ gets POW. Last week, it turned out to be kennelmate Quadrilateral in 26.41. The pair were drawn against each other again this week in the 415m monkey decider, and both were turned over . . . by yet another Roger York trained kennelmate, Humble Jet – in 26.37.

Most 2019 whelps missed major months in their development due to the Covid restrictions last year. Throw in any kind of injury set-back and there are a decent number of comparatively unexposed adult greyhounds still waiting to peak. Candy Man would be two and a half if he reaches the GAIN Nutrition Three Steps To Victory Final and would only be contesting his 14^th race. No. 12 was a hugely impressive 27.59 run in the first round.

With no Cat One events at Romford, but plenty of others elsewhere, the quality has definitely fallen away on ‘Romford Fridays’ – roll on the Puppy Cup. But every grey(hound) cloud . . . Jean Liles’ dual distance winner Wee Sydney picked up her first 400m maiden open last month and added a six-bend maiden to her CV with a 35.40 run.

Crayford’s Saturday night opens provided the week’s best racing with prolific E1 winner Swift Jaguar making her 874m debut and clocking a respectable 56.82 off a 33.69 split.

An absence of many of the top dogs combined with slow tracks has resulted in few eye-catching performances at Hove in the last week. Quickest over the standard was A3 winner Star Moss with a 29.68 run.

On the subject of top heat runners, Monmore staged eight A1s on the same Thursday card. The winning times varied between 28.58 and 29.17. Quickest of the lot and completing an A1 hat-trick was Aaron Dunn’s Shelbys Memory.

Sunderland staged four A1 races with winning times between 27.22 and 27.33. Quickest of them, and repeating an identical time to her previous race was the fast starting bitch puppy Blue Diva.

No Newcastle hound has finished more often on this chart this year than Potent Touch. Last week’s reigning champion looks in great form going into Judgement Night and Angela Harrison’s 30kg black has now won seven in a row at his home venue. Another dog retaining his crown is Paul Donovan’s Ballyregan Ravan who followed up a calculated 29.64 for the 500m course (18 spots outside the TR) with a 28.83 for the 480 (33 spots outside the TR).

The loss of the Gartcloss dogs to Newcastle has left a very short list of dogs capable of breaking 26.00 at Pelaw Grange. Marinas Artist is on that shortlist having landed his third consecutive A1 in a career best 25.82.

Perry Barr’s highest grade event this week was A2 and was duly won in the fastest time of the week by the debutant Coolavanny Bundi in 28.53 (+10). For those looking to compare form, his last winning line of form in Ireland was at Shelbourne Park in 28.63.

Meanwhile Perry Barr based Dapper Jess has made a successful return to Towcester where she used to contest A3. So far Robert Smith’s bitch has contested three 712m opens and won the lot in 43.49, 43.50 and 43.52.

Sandra Clayton’s Dominance will be among the 36 taking part in Wednesday’s first round of the Bresbet 75^th East Anglian Derby. The 30 kilo dark brindle signed off from graded form with the quickest run over the week, 27.87.

Kinsley’s top 462 runners didn’t appear this week leaving the field to the sprinters. Best of the lot, Kilaharry Best with a 16.01 run, just one spot outside Newinn Bonner’s FOY.

With nothing spectacular on the clock at Henlow, the nomination goes to puppy Concord Echo who joined Holiday Fairy at the top of the winners table for 2021 with 10 wins. The white and blue D2 sprinter has a 42% strike rate

It is hard to evaluate the quality of a track record over a new distance so assessing King Sam’s 15.63 (-05) run for Swindon’s 250m is a hard call. But it was a three length win in a decent field that included the previous fastest winner over course and distance, the prolific Droopys Guru (15.67). Sam has now won on six different tracks.