BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

There was a double open race bonanza at Towcester this week due to the delayed Sunday card staged on Tuesday plus the regular weekend fixture. By the close of racing on Tuesday night it seemed the nomination was a formality for the most consistent two-bender of the last two years (and possibly the most easily recognised dog on the open race circuit), Shrewd Call.

David Mullins runner clocked the second fastest run ever over the sprint course when landing the GAIN Nutrition Sovereign Stakes from track record holder Havana Class.

But then how do you not acknowledge the absolutely incredible performance by Havana Bale Out?

On Sunday the 20 month old running in just her fifth race destroyed the opposition from the boxes to go to within 14 spots of the 500m track record.

With Nottingham’s feature card also affected by weather and delayed until tonight, the spotlight fell on the graders where 21 month old Mickys Barrett clocked easily his best run to date, 29.75 in his 14^th outing.

A string of previous Hove POW winners did the business in the heats of the Olympic on Saturday night: Smurfs Machine (30.26), Freeky Pumbaa (30.51), Doorus Jet (30.34), Lanzo (30.36) . . . The stars of the night though were two/three British bred bitches, Pocket Lola (30.12), Lights Out (30.08) and Lola’s sister Pocket Lulu who was beaten a short head by Lights Out.

Meanwhile back at Monmore, another Hutton runner, Signet Mafia was recording the seventh fastest sprint of the year (15.30). He already has the fastest (15.18) and sixth fastest, 15.26.

On Tuesday night at Sheffield recent A3 winner Droopys Tess made her six bend debut and was only three spots off the fastest 660 of the year. Sticking with the six bend theme, Dan Brabon’s Ragtime Storm retained the Harlow nomination (again) when stretching her winning sequence to three, her course and distance record to 5:6 while simultaneously recording the fastest 592 seen this year.

However Sweet Pear’s rule at Romford came to an end after she was beaten fair and square by Bettys Book with a new PB of 35.43.

John Lambe sent out the two fastest winners over Perry Barr’s standard trip this week. Trendy Breeze (A2) almost made it with a 28.59 run but was edged out by 28.57 A1 winner Affane News. Newcastle staged three top heats with ex-Tralee 28.79 winner Gartcloss Geordi adding to his handicap scratch success with a 28.68 off levels.

With open racing currently off the agenda, it is back to the graders at Crayford and no more worthy recipient than Pennys Bobby. Following three wins in his previous four races, including a 23.14 for four bends, Alison Kelly-Pilgrim’s three year old finally landed his first S1 in 34.14.

Doncaster staged a single A1 this week and it was staged on Saturday afternoon. It should (!!) have provided the selection with Witches Rory getting home in 30.60 (-60). But how do you ignore Debbie Calvert’s 18 month old Maree Poacher who took the A2 by four lengths in 30.38 (-60)? Sunderland had their own exceptional youngster in Errill Buddy. Contesting his second race, the 29kg black kept his unbeaten tag with a flying 27.23 run in A1.

Yarmouth will have been eating into their salt supply this week and nothing came close to a sub-28.00 run. Quickest was Erica Samuels’ Favourite Trick (PB 27.85) with a 28.75 run. It was a different story at Kinsley though where there were two sub 28.00 runs for the 462m. The experienced Coonough Tio was marginally the quickest (27.90), but we are siding with April pup Farran Phoenix who was just five spots slower.

Old favourite Layton Shrek landed the fastest A1 at Henlow once again this week. His last 18 races: 12 wins, 6 seconds. Also on Sunday, after multiple unsuccessful attempts, including at least one photo finish, Matt Dartnall’s Distant Bolt, finally landed a novice stayer’s event at Swindon.

Meanwhile back at home base, the action was centred on the opening round of the ARC Champion Hurdle. Quickest on the clock was vetran Nomansland Flyer who beat Roxholme Biscuit in 29.82 (-50) two spots slower than the A1 winner.