Backhurst's sprinter is a cut above the rest at Oxford

Oxford picture from SIS Racing

Cutabovetherest lands the BetGoodwin Series Maiden Sprint

Barrie Backhurst landed the final of the Category Two BetGoodwin Series Maiden Sprint on Sunday at Oxford with Cutabovetherest. He has won multiple A1 races for the kennel but had not run in a sprint for them until the opening round of this competition, going unbeaten through the three rounds. 

He didn't need to go as quickly as his other pair of wins, but his early gears saw him away from trouble behind him at the opening turn. Savana Yahoo made it a Backhurst forecast, grabbing second at 16/1, with Cloughtaney Chaz finishing third for Rachel Hill.

The BetGoodwin Series Maiden Stayers got underway with Venetian Mick producing the performance of the opening round. His 39.24 is the fifth quickest of the year over the 650m distance, an impressive way to get off the mark over this far for Kevin Hutton. 

He was 58 spots ahead of Jamie Kingsley's Ballyhimikin Ben who was the second quickest winner in the competition. A Kent Derby semi-finalist, he has plenty of stamina on the damside of his pedigree, and 650m proved to be no issue for him.

Maxine Locke saw Yourself justify 4/7 odds to pick up a 39.84 victory. Still a puppy, he has a win over 500m at Hove but his dam set the clock over 850y at Shelbourne, so it is no surprise that the step up in trip was explored sooner rather than later, running clear of his rivals by eight lengths.

Produce Stakes finalist Malcolm Bosh looked the type to improve for going over further. He took a long time to get on top for Angie Kibble, shaping as if further again is going to suit him next year.

Is This Wise only had a pair of rivals to beat for Matt Dartnall to land his heat at the fourth time of asking over six bends. He worked his way up through the grades over 450m earlier on in the year, clocking 40.09 in victory.

The other heat saw the biggest shock of the opening round as Savana Bueno landed a 16/1 success for Terence Nevin. She needed plenty of the 650m to get her head in front, producing 40.16.

Vhagar headlined the other opens on the afternoon, landing short odds for Mark Wallis in a time just a spot outside the new track record set seven days back by Eagles Respect. 

Hutton and Locke both had winners away from the maiden competition with Start The Engine winning once more for the former and Razldazl Byway picking up the final race on the card for the latter.

Easy Molly was a quick winner for Diane Yeates on a track that was slow though the afternoon, she broke the beam in 26.70, 11 spots quicker than Start The Engine. In the other races, Gagas Merry picked up a six-bend win for Robin Jury, with 450m races going to Carol Weatherall's Getup Me Izzy and Da Bold Paris for Martin Thomas.

Three opens and seven overall for Foot at Star Pelaw

It was another excellent evening at Star Pelaw for Glenn Foot, picking up seven winners overall from the 12 races, with three of them open class contests. Beachgrove Lad was the pick of them, clocking an impressive 14.34 in a sprint. Only two dogs have gone quicker in the entirety of 2025 and having been campaigned primarily over four bends in Ireland, sprinting very much looks his game.

Untold Ariary had been well-backed to beat Killieford Goram last week, and doubled up to beat the same opponent once more, though sent off as the favourite on this occasion. Darbys Faye had kicked off the treble over 435m on just her second start since leaving Craig Morris.

Last week, Good Chloe picked up her first career win. Stuart Tighe's Apr 24 puppy added a second success, just five spots slower than Beachgrove Lad's win. She is closely related to Derby semi-finalist Dynamic Force and looks a force to be reckoned with herself. Tighe doubled up with Favourite Rogue who was notching up a hat-trick of wins over the 245m trip.

Hillside Lily has been one of the stories of the first year of Star Pelaw, picking up win number 10 on the year from just 21 starts in opens for Martin Stout. She is a model of consistency and this was her fifth straight success.

Stephen Caile landed the other open on the card, a six-bend contest with Hardwick Teddy. He has taken well to the tighter track, producing a third straight win here, the opening pair over eight bends. 

Brigadir Brindle off the mark for Spolander

There were three invitational races at Sheffield on Sunday, one which saw Brigadir Brindle winning for the first time since leaving David Mullins and joining John Spolander. He took the lead late on to deny Romeo Cobra a four-timer.

Kelly Hodson had better luck with Romeo Missile who beat a field containing the likes of Acomb Irene, timing his challenge well to get his head in front late on in the piece. 

The other invitational went to Stradbally Mac for Lisa Stephenson. He was getting his head in front for the first time since an A4 in February.