Our early support for young Kent-bred greyhound King Memphis paid off again on Saturday at Towcester. His impressive 28.65 run was just seven spots off the track record he shares with Droopys Clue.
The challenges faced by greyhound punters can be illustrated by the case of ARC Kent Silver Salver winner Magical Bluebear. In the competition's opening round, he was the 4/7 favourite but was beaten by My Lennie (7/2) in 16.29. In the final, My Lennie was the 15/8 favourite, led until the second bend, but was ultimately beaten by Bluebear (2/1) in 16.24.
New Destiny set a new 575m track record at Romford on Friday during the Coral Coronation Cup, narrowly besting Hollow Man’s previous record. Destiny's time was recorded on +15 going, compared to Hollow Man’s +20, though Hollow Man’s sectionals were consistently quicker. The night also saw Druids Say Go set a new fastest time of the year (FOY) for the 400m with 23.48, marking 13 wins from 18 races over the course and distance.
The opening round of the ARC Puppy Trophy at Sunderland saw Tom Heilbron’s youngster Madabout Peck set a new fastest 450 of the year. Despite only one win in his first 11 races, if he continues to produce 4.70 splits, he will be hard to beat in the next two runs.
Steve Caile’s Delvin Cat, one of Newcastle’s top performers earlier this year, has returned to form after a layoff. Back-to-back wins in A2 and A1 races suggest he is nearing his best again.
South of Newcastle, Pelaw’s top-grade winner this week was Taneisha, with a 26.01 win. Although Adamant Elsa’s 25.85 was in A5, two lengths still matter. At 24.4 kilos, we must stand up for the smaller greyhounds (just under 54 lbs for the old-timers).
Last week’s Nottingham selection, Bettys Jack, won again at Colwick Park, though his time was slightly slower. Meanwhile, Dave Lee’s El Tornillo rebounded from his Derby elimination with a 28.45 run over the 480m course, second only to Velvet Madrid’s 28.41 this year.
Droopys Rosie’s 29.42 was enough to seal last week’s Hove selection, and Rioja Woody’s 29.45 open win on Thursday continues his streak of three wins and two seconds in his last five races for Richard Rees. Though he has a calculated 29.17 on his card, he seems to have misplaced his speedier trapping boots.
Baran Maggie, who debuted in A6 at Hove 13 races ago, now has eight wins, including a 26.62 victory over Oaks winner Jet Stream Angel for Oxford’s 450 meters. Jamie Kingsley’s brindle already has winning times of 26.58 and 26.67 over the same distance.
Dashing Dude dominated Swindon with six wins in seven races and five consecutive wins this year. Despite a rough patch, Thursday’s open win marked a hat-trick, and his times are improving. The 15.20 run is just 14 spots off his own FOY.
Selections are easier with quick times in decent class company, despite complications with track conditions. Tax You Tonight clocked the fastest 415 at Harlow this week—26.43 in A2 on +20 going. However, Britbull Panama’s 26.45 on +10 going in A1 company was more impressive. Di Jinks’ runner has been exceptional, with eight wins and two seconds in his last 11 races.
Lemming Spirit struggled at Harlow but has improved under Michelle Brown at Suffolk Downs, winning four of her last seven races, including the best 388m run of the week with a 23.85 in an A1 field.
On Saturday night, Away Jazz celebrated a year since his first solo at Monmore with a new personal best of 28.22, improving from his debut in A4.
In Birmingham, Kilara Jacko won his A1 in 28.58 but was outdone by Bob Hall’s Mt Heaton Boyo with a 28.42 run.
Farneys Willie clocked the joint second-fastest time of the year over 661m at Doncaster but was outshone by Agile Annie, who won in 29.29. Though off her own FOY for the 483m (29.19), she remains unbeaten in her last four races.
At Sheffield, the quickest graded winner was Marlfied Diaz with a 28.87 run in A3, but the puppy card goes to Easy Ride Bo, who won in A4 with 28.91. The 25-kilo black pup is just 18 months old.
Ballymac Nova, while his litter brother Ballymac Slick won a quarter-final of the English Derby, clocked the fastest 659m race of the year at Yarmouth. Given the track's first marathon of the year on the same card, Pam Cross’s near eight-length winner may step up in the next set of opens.
The ‘Ballymac’ prefix frequently appears in Performers of the Week, especially at Swindon (Angie Kibble) and Kinsley (Bev Heaton). While Boomer clocked 27.93 at Kinsley this week, Leticias Pride eclipsed this with a 27.89 run on Sunday. She also has Ballymac genes.
Last week, Different Speed overcame the superstition of the number 13 but failed to secure a 14-timer. This week, Unwanted Present earns the spotlight with a 28.19 for the standard, just half a length off the year’s quickest.
Dave Lee’s El Tornillo, one of the kennel’s most versatile performers, has run on ten different tracks, winning opens on seven. On Sunday night, he returned to Crayford, clocking the fifth fastest time of the year with 33.39, just 13 spots short of the quickest run of the year.