British Performance of the Week - 14 July 2025

British Performance of the Week

Breeder Dave Firmager already has two Cat Ones secured this year with British Breeders Stakes winner Romeo Control and Coronation Cup winner Fabulous Sonique but will be strongly fancied to add to that haul when Romeo Alliance goes to traps for Sunday’s JR Racing Juvenile Classic Final at Towcester. A 10/1 chance when knocked over in the Gymcrack Final, he has progressed steadily in the last three months. His 28.78 run in the Classic semis was his sixth win in just 11 races. 

The Sunday afternoon exploits followed another productive night for Team Janssens at Hove where Romeo Kingpin (285m-16.28), Slick Sentinel (515m-30.14), Romeo Tomcat (515m-30.43) and Romeo Empire (695m-41.85) all did the business. But the selection is the David Mullins-trained Borna Parachute with a 41.65 run in a PGR Regency Trialstake. The main event, along with the Sussex Cup, both close at Noon today and get underway on Saturday. 

The choice of Fabulous Sonique as last week’s Romford selection above the claims of the quicker Gary The Arb was one of the tougher calls. But Belinda Green’s ’24 Coronation finalist completed a Romford hat-trick in 34.77 on Friday night. He has six wins from nine races over the short six bends and coincidentally, has a 100% record in four red jacket outings. 

Newinn Deputy, who finished one place ahead of Romeo Alliance in the eventful Gymcrack final, then returned to graded racing at Monmore picking up A3/A2 races in quick succession before a lean run of seven races. But he was the quickest hound back at his home track last week when beating an A2 field in 28.35. 

It will be two years in September since Tuono Bella made her first Cental Park appearance when beaten in A4. Four Category One finals later, Paul Donovan’s brindle was back at the same track plying her trade in minor open company. There was surely no greater value this weekend than her 4/5f SP when she romped up by almost seven lengths in 40.24 (-45) for the ‘664’. By means of comparison, Garfiney Blaze’s clock is 40.12 (-30). 

It has taken Frank Bryce’s Ardera Sam some time to find his Cork 28.04 (525yd) form but following a string of defeats he came good in a Swindon A1 on Tuesday clocking 27.90 for the 476m. That is the fourth fastest time this year for course and distance and just three-quarters of a length off Hard Done Boy’s quickest run. A mention too for track record holder Dashing Dude in a D1 graded race though his 15.29 run was 26 spots outside that clock. 

Like Swindon, Sheffield ran their open racers in graded company last week and the result was a competitive top heat. Multiple Cat One finalist Acomb Irene (100/30) was the big name in Sunday’s A1 though the layers reckoned Slippy Keith (11/8f) would have the edge. So it proved with a 28.79 run for Rose Draper’s black.  

The Sunderland sprint times have gone crazy this year, taking nothing away from Stonepark Hoffa’s 15.26 track record. So although On The Nose’s 15.51 open win may not raise eyebrows quite as high as previous years, Carl Jackson’s blue deservedly gets the nod. Quickest over four bends was Sunday’s 27.07 A1 winner Rebel Columbus. He has now won half of his last eight races. 

With no opens at Nottingham this week, it presented a chance for the ‘Wolf pack’ to sparkle. A2 winner Wolf Gold clocked the quickest run of the week, 30.21, with older full brother Wolf Moon only five spots slower. While Gold’s litter brother Wolf Rebel just failed to add to the glory for Jill Llewellin’s British breds when second to A1 winner, Mallogs Miley (30.25). 

A year ago, Slingshot Sam beat Wicky Ned in the semi-finals of the Time Northern Flat at Newcastle clocking 28.51. The form was reversed in the final with Brian Fairbairn’s brindle finishing second to Ned’s 28.81 run. On Thursday night, the 39.7kg monster clocked the fastest time in the opening round of this year’s competition in a flying 28.27, the fifth fastest ‘480’ of the year. Sadly, tragedy struck on the journey home from the track, our thoughts with his connections. 

Valley punters will be putting a few cautionary notes against the form for Thursday when D3 winner Most Dapper clocked a career best 15.98 for the sprint (previous best 16.26) and A3 winner Choctawhatate recorded the fastest ‘460’ of the week, 28.44. But we are ignoring the clock and going for Sunday’s 16.10 D1 winner Hawkfield Scar who was winning for the eighth time in his last ten outings. 

Yarmouth form was also a bit shakey this week. Taking nothing from the fastest ‘462’ run by Leeview Glory, his 27.53 on Wednesday followed a photo finish A1 win on going rated at +30. So the selection is the Saturday night open winner Laugh Alot. Not only was her winning time of 27.81 (-10) calculated to be quicker, Jane Craske’s blue brindle completed an A1-O/R-O/R-O/R four timer. 

In June, Wonderful Ollie clocked 27.81 in his last Yarmouth A1 race for Craig Morris. On Sunday evening, Ollie ran his third race for Daniel Bell at Pelaw and landed a 590 metre open. Only Emilys Superstar (35.70) has gone quicker this year. A mention too for the fastest middle distance winner last week, Brunos Boy (25.51). 

Moaning Versace is currently the best middle distance hound at Harlow. The reigning Performer of the Week was available at 7/2 for a tough looking A3 on Monday and completed a hat-trick in 26.17 (+30). While times were clearly influenced by favourable atmospherics, the prolific Soul Destroyer runner stamped the form with a 26.22 run on the same card. 

Doncaster’s ‘super fast’ meeting took place on Tuesday when the week’s quickest ‘450’ and ‘483’ were staged. The latter went the way of Duggies Donny with a 29.64 (+10) A1 win. Although, comparatively speaking, the winning time of 27.54 (+10) over the shorter distance, in a field that included Thequietman and Droopys Glam, was probably of no greater merit, kennelmate Blueys Elle can play the ‘puppy’ card. That’s four wins in his first five races for the previously unraced Irish youngster. 

The feature race of the week at neighbouring Kinsley was probably the A3 won by Mineola Topman. The 28.12 winning time was equalled by A4 winner Lundhill Alfie. Only four spots slower though was this week’s youngest selection, the Jan ’24 whelp, Grumpy Amber. 

As expected, Kevin Hutton snaffled half of the six heats in Saturday night’s Pall Mall first round. Two bigger surprises were the elimination of his previously unbeaten seven-timer Start The Engine (4/5f) and defeat for Scurry winner Rioja Oisin (8/15f). That qualifier went to Salacres Senan who was finally getting the ease in distance that he clearly needed. The dog who had easily led March On Freddie (28.94 -20) to the fourth bend in a 500m contest at Towcester, clocked the quickest run of the night, 26.68. 

Returning to the subject of Scurry finals, it was back in October 2023 when Headford Sonny finished runner-up to Quarteira in the Perry Barr Category Two decider. After competing in a string of sprint opens and D1 contests Robert Hall’s black finally got a downgrade to D2 and duly ended a 13 race losing streak to produce the fastest two bender of the week, 16.18.