BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

The clearest winner of the week was the impressive Bornchurch Mick who completed an impressive unbeaten run through the Winter Derby at Monmore. By means of comparison, his three runs were 28.30, 28.37 and 28.14 having clocked 4.33 sectional twice. Last year Signet Ace clocked 28.08 in the final off a 4.38 sectional though his best ever is 4.28.

More early pace action on Sunday, Crossfield Dusty added to his Scurry and National Sprint wins with an impressive victory in the Northamptonshire Sprint. He was only nine spots outside Havana Class’s track record. His record is incredible, 20 races, 14 wins, 3 seconds and he is only just two years and one month old!

Lenson Doolin, who is a former kennelmate of Dusty, clocked the fastest time of the night over 480m at Central Park on Sunday – and he did so after jumping five hurdles!! Possibly one of the most naturally gifted jumpers to so far come through the Holloway hurdling academy, Doolin’s 29.29 was recorded on -20 going. Sober Call’s five year old track record is 28.97.

There was a decent sprint win by Newcastle record holder Freedom Whiskey at Nottingham on Monday, though the 30.00 run by A2 winner Myahs Magic probably just shades it. That is three wins and two seconds (both short head) in her last five for the Barry Denby trained blue.

A 28.85 (calc) solo at Kilkenny was the only real clue to his ability, but Kirsty Grayson seems to have a real find in Dairy Hill Jet. On Tuesday he turned over Acomb Winston in 28.56, just four spots off the fastest clock recorded for the Sheffield 500m course last year.

Paul Philpott’s Costa Del Potty completed a four timer and was quickest of the ten Suffolk Downs winners on Tuesday (24.40). However the track staged their first Friday meeting three days later and former Henlow A2 runner Fi Me Jezabelle bettered that with a 24.23 (-30) run. Savana Raven finished half a length in front of Jezabelle when the pair last met at Henlow. On Sunday Jason Bloomfield’s flyweight (28.3kg) black was readily available at 9-2 when extending his recent run to five from seven.

Kevin Proctor was (understandably) unimpressed last week when we swerved Front Society’s FON win to celebrate March On Henry’s Harlow nine-timer. Both Kevin and his hound had a point to make – and did so with the dual distance star stooping Henry’s run in a very respectable 26.67 (-40). That’s a four-timer for the ultra consistent black who first qualified almost two and a half years ago with a 26.15 trial.

Thursday was the prestige night at Newcastle this week when Potent Touch, and Droopys Yee Haw both landed A1 races in sub 29.00. But between them was A2 winner Droopys Rey in an even quicker 28.77 (-10).

There was little to get Romford clock watchers excited on Friday night. The pick of the bunch was probably Drumdoit Bomber with a 35.78 (-50) run. However Paul Burr’s Essex Vase finalist is capable of much quicker, his 13.81 Friday sectional was 29 spots off his best, when he clocked 35.21, and he also has a 27.36 solo back at home track Yarmouth.

Burgess Hannah found Bellmore Sally (44.81) 11 lengths to good in last week’s Golden Jacket Final. But dropped to ‘maiden’ company she duly did the business a week later in 45.70.

Doncaster’s Performer of the Week was always going to be dependent on the winner of the cracking A1 held on Saturday afternoon. It featured a whole string of previous POW winners headed by last week’s champ Catunda Tom. But there was a third win in his last five outings for Debbie Calvert’s super consistent top heat runner Glitter Gee.

There was a similar ‘obvious’ race to decide the Perry Barr winner where Stage Manager, who originally qualified in 29.76, won the week’s only A2 in the quickest time of the week. John Lambe’s runner has won five of his last seven PB outings.

Hove staged two decent quality A1s on Saturday night. Brutus Bullet won arguably the toughest of the pair in 29.92, but the clock doesn’t lie and Derrinasafa Boss continued his remarkable run by clocking 29.65 in the other. The former Swindon A4 regular has now won five of his nine races since switching.

With Dominance off open racing, Gracias Lorenzo went for a power grab in Yarmouth’s top A1. It came off with a new PB for Mark Brighton’s runner.

The Sunderland selection is virtually impossible to call with a whole mix of dogs in the offing depending on going allowances. So we’ll edge it to Holdem Liffey, the first local to accumulate five wins in 2022. Staying in the North East, after two abandoned weeks, Pelaw Grange were back in action on Sunday where Your Round Benny produced the only sub 26.00 performance.

Kinsley’s standard is 27 metres longer and the bar is therefore two seconds slower. Gortroe Rainbow, who runs graded sprints but has won opens over 660m at Sheffield have broken 28.00 on numerous occasions. This week’s 27.83 was 30 spots off her personal best.

Ballymac Intent was one of only three hounds to break 28.00 for 476m at Swindon last year. It finished 27.93 Ballymac Conti, 27.94 Westway Blake, 27.97 Ballymac Intent. The litter sister to crack Irish open racer Deadly Destroyer was 19 spots off that run on Sunday night. Westway Blake heads the list in 28.08.