'It is not often a commentator is reduced to laughter' - the week's winners

The Racing Post's awards will honour the best (and sometimes worst) performances and raise talking points from the last seven days of racing. This week's winners are . . .

Performance of the week

Persian Force

Bought for €225,000 as a yearling and in the colours of Amo Racing, Persian Force was always bound to attract significant market support for the Brocklesby at Doncaster on Saturday.

A brother to last year's Super Sprint winner Gubbass, Persian Force was evens favourite to replicate his sibling by winning over 5f on his debut, and he duly delivered, capturing the first British Flat race of the season on turf in some style by four and three-quarters of a length.

The manner in which Persian Force quickened away from his rivals when asked by Rossa Ryan, suggests that an exciting summer could be in store for connections, especially with Ryan reporting that the run had not even "scratched the surface" of the son of Mehmas's potential.

Royal Ascot calling? Persian Force bolts up in Brocklesby for Ryan and Hannon

Disappointment of the week

Life Is Good

Todd Pletcher's Life Is Good came into the Dubai World Cup as the red-hot favourite having won back-to-back Grade 1s on home soil at Del Mar and Gulfstream Park.

Everything seemed to be going to plan when the four-year-old, who was having his first start outside the United States, broke well and was soon gifted an easy lead.

However, when Irad Ortiz Jr asked the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner for more as he entered unknown territory of an extra furlong, the 8-13 favourite began to tire and eventually faded into fourth with the race going the way of Life Is Good's former trainer Bob Baffert, courtesy of Country Grammer and Frankie Dettori.

Country Grammer gives Frankie Dettori his fourth Dubai World Cup

Trainer of the week

Nicky Henderson

Nicky Henderson struck on Midlands National Day at Uttoxeter with Issuing Authority and the day after at Ffos Las with his only runner on the afternoon, Emir Sacree. Since then the Seven Barrows trainer maintained his flying form with a winner every day except Thursday.

Monkfish's half-sister Fishcake made a winning hurdling debut at Plumpton on Monday, Park Hill Dancer bolted up in a bumper at Exeter on Tuesday, while Valsheda and Go Chique landed successes at Ffos Las and Hereford respectively. However, the highlight of Henderson's week came on Saturday with an across-the-card treble, which included Theatre Glory in the £50,000 feature at Kelso and bumper winners Bold Reaction and Lightfoot Lady, who made a winning debut in the Might Bite colours at Stratford.

The prolific week took Henderson over the £2 million prize-money mark for the season as he closes in on Paul Nicholls in the trainers' championship ahead of decisive meetings at Aintree and Sandown next month.

Farce of the week

Fontainebleau

It is not often that a commentator is reduced to laughter when calling a race but that is what happened at Fontainebleau on Friday after the jockeys had a difference of opinion in the Bruyeres Chase.

Ian Bartlett was left bemused as Paintball and Erik Le Viking were diverted to the outside of the track to jump different obstacles while the majority of the field remained towards the rail.

Paintball and Erik Le Viking eventually rejoined the rest of the field but were disqualified for taking the wrong course. The race was eventually won by Saint Pair.

'They've gone two different ways!' - French farce has commentator in stitches

Shock of the week

Palm Beach

As Donald McCain enjoyed another stellar week, which produced ten winners, it was a surprise to see Gredin turned over at odds of 2-9 in the 2m3½f novice hurdle at Carlisle on Sunday.

The three-runner affair was settled emphatically by Palm Beach who ran out a 29-length winner on his stable debut for John Dixon.

A winner on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien, the five-year-old chased home Martin Pipe winner Banbridge in a Roscommon novice hurdle in July and clearly benefited from the calmer waters in Cumbria to overturn the long odds-on favourite.

Catch our new in-depth review of the weekend's racing every Monday in the Racing Post. With big-race analysis from Grand National-winning jockey Leighton Aspell, Chris Cook's take on the weekend action, eyecatchers from the Raceform team, weekly awards and more, it is not to be missed.