BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

There were three major finals at the weekend all of which led to some editorial head scratching. Should the three Cat One winners automatically be the selections for the Performer of the Week? In a sport of opinions, some would argue that they should.

But it was the run of Candy Man in the Olympic Consolation who, in the final analysis, swayed the judgement against. Battered at the boxes, he was made to battle for his win which he achieved in a time 20 spots faster than big race winner Prince Of Troy. The title is ‘Performance of the Week’, not necessarily ‘Big Race Win of the Week’. In the end, a no-brainer.

While Make Noise will take the plaudits for a fine display in the English Puppy Derby Final at Towcester, we cannot in clear conscience not give the nomination to the similarly aged British bred Romeo De Niro who was desperately unlucky in the semi finals and went 20 spots quicker than Seamus Cahill’s runner in a supporting open. The toughest of the three calls though.

Then on Sunday night, Toolmaker Daddy (11-1) took a messy ARC Champion Hurdle decider at Central Park. Instead, the vote goes to Dan Brabon’s Ragtime Storm. A prolific POW winner for her Harlow exploits, she has six wins and a second in her last eight outings.

On Saturday night, Mark Wallis sent out four open winners at Monmore, at least three of which could have been selected for this feature. In the end, we’ve just edged it to the lightly raced Antigua Cuddles in possibly her last puppy race.

After three of his littermates had taken the tricast in the BGBF Puppy Cup final at Towcester, Kevin Hutton suggested that Signet Otis was probably the pick of the litter. He still only has seven races on his card. But a fastest semi in Sheffield’s British bred Derby, his fourth career win, suggests the big claim made by the big man, might must be on the mark – as usual.

On the same night, Optic Jimmy clocked the fastest time in the opening round of the ARC All England Cup, albeit on slightly more favourable ground (-20) than Brynoffa Lloyd (28.63 -30). It was as much about the opposition as the time though with Frankies Jet, Narcos The Great and Droopys Hooray struggling to slipstream the winner.

On Monday Crossfield Dusty made it ten wins from his 14 race career in the semi finals of the National Sprint. He already looks guaranteed a nomination for Sprinter of the Year. Victory in the final over great rival and Sovereign Stakes winner Shrewd Call would probably edge him the title, in what will probably be his last race as a pup.

On Friday night at Romford, Dapper Rodney, beaten in his previous 14 outings, showed just what he was capable of when on the bunny – an 11 length win in 35.18 (-30) run for 575m.

Toolmaker Daddy’s trainer Ricky Holloway might have missed out at Central Park, on our assessment at least, but he appears to have his best stayer for some time in Navy Blue. The sixth fastest 750 winner at Shelbourne this year, only 11 spots off the quickest, gave respected local Droopys Dial a six length beating in a respectable 45.41 for the Golden Jacket course at Crayford.

The Harlow selection took some digging out this week. On balance, it probably just goes to 592m open winner Philfen Afina. No such problems for Trendy Breeze at Perry Barr. Some 15 months after landing an A6 in 29.18, she produce the run of her career to clock 28.34 when winning an A1 by five lengths.

Drumdoit Bomber picked up the Yarmouth POW award twice in November when clocking 27.89 twice. But the dog with 35.21 and 35.24 (575) open wins at Romford landed a personal best last Monday with a 27.69 (-30) A1 run.

Sunderland had a tie for the FOW with Glamorous Vicky and Matts Mink both returning 27.40 for the 450m. However the latter edged it on the balance of landing the higher grade. Meanwhile at Durham neighbours Pelaw Grange, Darbystown Ted collected his second win in eight races with a new PB of 26.08.

Doncaster’s top A1 of the week was staged on Sunday morning and was won in emphatic style by Sue Watson’s Ballymac Johnsie. One of the most consistent performers at the track he answered the indignity of a one grade relegation by completing an A2-A2-A1 hat-trick in 30.37.

The Henlow selection a few hours later was equally simple. Jason Bloomfield’s Olympic semi finalist Abigails Buddy was by far the quickest hound over the 460m course this week when landing a tough A1.

Conversely while a very good case could be made for Kinsley’s fastest 462m winner of the week Ross Magic (27.96), we’ve opted for 27.99 A4 winner Farran Phoenix, not two years old until April.

Swindon’s Bluejig Elsa, who has another six weeks of juvenile status, was also the fastest of the 476m trip, by some distance. The John Campbell trained black won an A3 by seven lengths in 28.36 (-10)