British Bred Finals are frequently underplayed by the industry media as being either uncompetitive or lacking in class. Neither charge stands inspection when viewing the 28.73 run of Patrick Janssens’s Fabulous Azurra in the BGBF British Bred Derby on Tuesday.
On Monday night kennelmate Crossfield Dusty put himself in a strong position for a crack at the Sprinter of the Year title by landing an exciting National Sprint Final – though let’s not forget his double Cat One winning kennelmate Bockos Jonjo (Golden Sprint/Northamptonshire Sprint).
On Tuesday the last six were determined in the ARC All England Cup at Newcastle. Quickest of the three semi final winners was Skywalker Stan, one of a very small group of greyhounds to have beaten the brilliant Brookside Richie earlier in his career.
On times it would be hard to separate Harlow open winners March On Henry (26.42-415m) and Seaglass Smokey (38.37-592m). But the former gets it on his 6:6 record over course and distance.
Probably the best all-round open card took place at Towcester. There was a huge temptation to select the pups Salacres Lee (15.87) and Deeligh Frankie (29.47) but in conscience, it is hard to look past Salacres Pippy for a faultless 43.26 run, her sixth win (2 seconds) in her last eight races over c&d.
Open races are rare fare at Pelaw but the Bank Holiday crowd saw races over three distances. The selection is not just based on Sunday’s run, but a string of fine efforts as the track’s outstanding tracker for 2021, Marinas Artist.
With fewer opens due to the holidays, a chance for the graders to shine. They would include Central Park’s quickest A1 winner of the week, the home bred Foolish Ways. Perry Barr’s top race of the week was won in the fastest time by a dog who began his career in A3 at Belle Vue, Bower Turbo. West Midland neighbour Monmore typically runs 30-40 spots quicker than for the 480 course; this week’s quickest run was Moanteen Sweep’s 28.42. For Romford A1 regular Stradeen Azzurra a 24.12 A1 run was enough to clinch a rare place in the spotlight.
This time last year Dalcash Fury jumped from A6 to A2 in five races. Julie Luckhurst’s black seems to love the festive spirit with a recent run of three wins in four races including his first A1 win in six months. Magical Hulk made his debut in January and has 10 wins from 25 outings since, the most recent being a FOW at Swindon.
Stefans Tornado boasts 28.58 Shelbourne form so looks well capable of stepping up on his recent 27.50 A1 win at Sunderland.
Technically Doorus Jet’s 29.40 run counts as ‘graded’ but with over half a second in hand on the next quickest winner it would stack up against any open.
Forget the winning time at a sodden Doncaster. One A1 this week, the best available locals went to boxes and it went to Ricky Overton’s 12-1 shot Cosard Wonder. Across Yorkshire, Kinsley’s fastest 462m runner of the year Quo Vadis (27.42) was expected to see off a decent A2 field but found one too good in Sylvia Oakes’ Glenvale Gav.
There were two A1s at Henlow and the quickest of them was Layton Shrek. That is 32 races in 2021 for 15 wins and 9 seconds.
Last but not least, the cream of the Yarmouth graded strength were assembled for the annual Yarmouth Championship. Paul Burr was trebly represented in the decider and it was his Zari Rosie who carried off the £1,500 first prize in 28.44 (-60)..
