BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

For those who never expected to see a race as good as the eight-runner 2017 Dorando Marathon at Towcester, those expectations were surpassed on Sunday afternoon. With less than a length covering the first five home in the 1^st Containers Marathon Trophy Final – Space Jet’s effort will remain long in the memory.

On Saturday night ‘Big Kev’ Hutton steered three through to next weekend’s Bresbet Steel City Cup Final though ante post favourite Signet Ace was outshone by kennelmate Forest Gold in Saturday’s semi finals.

Both Gold and the third kennelmate, Headford Flash had winning litter brothers at Swindon on Sunday with Headford Harry setting a new record for the 250m. A mention too for British bred Emotional who became the first hound to break 42.00 for the 682m trip but Harry edges it on the basis of four wins and a second in his five races at the track to date.

In recent weeks Perry Barr has reminded us why it is one of the best racing circuits in the country. Space Jet might have dominated the Leger trip but Skywalker Cilla has been every bit as sensational in the Oaks clocking the second fastest time ever of the standard distance in the Oaks semis.

On the subject of great circuits, Central Park will always be among them. With Shawfield seemingly gone forever, is the Central Park 500 now the toughest four bend test in the country as well as the most under-used race distance? Step forward Smurfs Machine with the fastest clock (on -30) since Blue Tick George’s 29.74/29.76 some 13 months ago.

The Friday night selection was a hard one to call with Warzone Tom clocking the second fastest 575 of the year. But how could we overlook the sensational back-to-front performance of Champion Stakes winner Night Time Danny over a trip clearly well short of his optimum?

Monday invariably provides the Nottingham selection though it isn’t often that it would go to the only runner to break 30.00 for the standard during the week. That was the qualifying criteria for A1 regular Kelseys Duke who picked up his first open in race 32.

Last week we had a tough call in ignoring Popworld’s exploits at Crayford. That is no longer an option after she took the 540m Guys And Dolls Final in 33.38 – only one spot off Aayamza Lexie’s FOY as she remained unbeaten over course and distance in four outings.

Three years ago Airdrie based Andrew Wood landed the Newcastle Puppy Derby winner Droopys Trawler. His latest acquisition Bens Lad produced the performance of the week in a puppy open at Monmore with a 28.39 (-20) run.

Until Wednesday night, the 26.00 barrier had been bettered seven times at Harlow this year. Jamie Kingsley’s March On Henry made it eight.

Moving onto the graded runners and in years to come, there will surely be grounds for confusion concerning the Hove top heat. When the fastest A1 is won in 29.94 by Goldie Linekar (and the rest in 30.07, 30.13, 30.31 and 30.48) the question will surely be – were they still running over 515?

Doncaster stages opens on Monday night, though in all honesty the best race of the week was Saturday’s A1 which went to Sean Parker’s six bend open winner Zero O Eight who led home Kilara Bugle and Waikiki Dancer. There was a similar story at Henlow where the open winner were outperformed by local A1 grader Baby Bullet.

Repeat winners aren’t unusual but last week’s Kinsley selection Cloneen Alba was switched from A3 to D1 and still dead heated in a decent 16.24.

Ex Doncaster A1/B1 runner Optic Jimmy made a flying start to his Newcastle graded career, landing the week’s fastest top heat in 28.56. While at Sunderland Mucho Macho Jack is winning his game with the RM of ‘who blinks first’. Three consecutive A1 wins in 26.83, 27.02 and 27.01. Fancy another crack Mr Grader?

Derby Plate finalist Swift Cope began his career in A4 at Yarmouth and has gone on to win a string of opens. He returned to Norfolk for his 65^th race on Wednesday.The fact that he clocked the fastest time of the week is hardly news, bizarrely though it came with the race comment ‘Mid,LdAwkRunIn’

The most impressive graded run of the week though probably belongs to Pelaw’s Mustang Tyson with a 25.54 effort – the fastest over course and distance in 14 months.