So where did 2011 go? This is my last column of the year so may I firstly take this opportunity to wish everyone a prosperous 2012.

I will do my best to give you all some more winners over the next twelve months.

I am already looking ahead to next February when the track stages it’s top race The Ladbroke Golden Jacket which carries a winners prize of £15,000. Run over 714 metres the top stayers from around the country will be heading for Crayford in late January to try and gain entry into the event proper through the trial stages.

I shall be giving full coverage of this prestigious race week to week once the participants are known.

For the present however we must concentrate on the local graded runners and in particular those who relish the heavier track conditions which we experience at this time of year.

One of the performances of the week for me came from Kereight Hollie in an S5 race over 540 metres.

The Gemma Davidson trained runner completely missed her break when the traps opened and I doubt if anyone in attendance would have given her any chance of winning at that stage, however she put in a very strong finish to move up from last around the last two bends to get up and win on the line by three quarters of a length.

We do not often see that sort of improvement here over the last hundred metres so what would she have done had she trapped well and led early? It will probably be a grade higher for her next time but in this sort of form she will go close.

On the same card Doxology put five lengths between himself and his five rivals and his fast win time of 34.54 was the best of the day over 540 metres. He ran in grade S6 whilst the winner of an S3 race could only manage 34.84 seconds.

This shows that an upgrade of one level to S5 for him should prove to be no great inconvenience.

Take note he has won an S5 before in a time of 34.57 so this performance was not out of character. He could be a good thing again next time.

Look out also for Coolnamona Cathy and Canal Belle during the next fortnight who also look progressive on the current going.