Brace yourself for a cracking week's open-racing
The Essex Vase card was quality from to bottom, although the final itself was full of rough and tumble and hard luck stories, as the sheer determination of Boolavogue would not be denied. But connections of Bubbly Totti are entitled to feel unlucky as they looked to have won the race when challenging and passing Bourne Masons at the third turn. The old dog looked set for a famous victory unti Boolavogue landed a knockout blow.
On the undercard, Jim Daly unleashed a real tool for puppy staying events as Droopys Songr cut loose late on over 575m. Daly lost the services of crack four-bender Jesters Nap a couple of months back, but looks set to enjoy some more fun on the open-race scene courtesy of this youngster. He could be anything.
Bubbly Bullet was a shade unfortunate to catch a tartar in Foyle Storm over 400m, so it was no surprise to see Ted Soppitt's dog bounce back at Sunderland on Friday, and he is worth staying with. He has terrific all-round speed.
The eye-catchers in the hurdles race were the front two. Freedom Man was just scintillating and a match-up with Platinumlancelot could see a cracking early-paced buckle.
But the runner-up Citrix Champion clearly has gears. No question there is a touch of temperament here, he had a 'go' after the line, but the dog has real pace and could come away from Romford and pick up a nice race somewhere.
King Lee heads to Nottingham on Monday for the National Sprint in good heart after pulverising his field over 400m. Already being spoken of as a Derby dog, he has great pace, but is well known now!
But two from the race in behind worth following are Patsy Cusack's raw Thank Will, who stayed on in really good style, and Do It Blackie, who looks the type with experience who might pick up a number of races at Romford before heading out on the circuit.
Wimbledon is hosting the country's top bitches just now, and the fairer sex head into Tuesday's semis still shuffling for top spot in the market.
The defeat of crack Irish bitch Tyrur Liz will have given other's hope, but she still looks the one to beat, while the kennels of Liz and Rab McNair are sitting pretty having plundered two of the four heats with Shaws Dilemma and Cabra Exclusive.
In behind, the eyecatchers on Saturday were Freedom Emma, who did not get the clearest of runs in her and can come away better; and Pearly Queen, who is running into some serious form and will relish the three runs in a week schedule to the semis.
And while she was knocked out, Klockwork Kyla showed enough early speed to suggest she will be touch to hold elsewhere.
Hove is also in open-race frenzy mode and Challengingtimes notched up a quick double on Saturday.
A relatively recent intake into Seamus Cahill's in-form kennel, he came over with a fair Irish card and ran in the Derby at Shelbourne. But he has clearly settled now and is relishing the test of Hove, especially. One to keep with.