Wimbledon best bets: Buddy can fizz to glory in St Leger quarter-finals

David Metcalf | 27.10.2016

Fizzypop Buddy to sparkle again at Wimbledon

The quarter-finals of the St Leger take centre stage on an excellent Open race card at Wimbledon tonight screened live on Racing Post Greyhound TV (Sky 468, Freesat 250), and defending champ T5 Fizzypop Buddy looks worth a wager to turn over ante post favourite Cloran Paddy in the second at 19:39.

June Harvey’s charge ran out the impressive winner of the competition 12 months ago and thrives around the Plough Lane circuit.

He has won seven of his 12 starts at the track and looked better than ever in last week’s heats when powering clear to beat Mildean Puma by five lengths.

SPORT Greyhounds

In doing so, the son of Tubbertelly Dubh clocked a cracking 41.48, faster than anything his rivals in this achieved.

With T2 Cloran Paddy having an early paced sort on his inside in the shape of T1 Huarache Madison he will have to be foot perfect at the start and there is a possibility of a coming together on the inside if he isn’t.

That would set things up perfectly for the strong staying Buddy and if within striking distance turning for home he is going to be very hard to contain.

Bullet worth a shot in opener

In the first quarter-final (19:25), T4 Billys Bullet looks decent value to land the spoils.

The Mark Wallis trained son of Ace Hi Rumble has been a terrific servant and overcame serious injury to win the final of this year’s Coral Regency at Hove back in May.

Billys Bullet has since posted a series of solid efforts and is a tremendous competition dog who always gives his best.

Nottingham Greyhound Racing

Although beaten by five lengths in last week’s heats when runner-up to the re-opposing T6 Jaytee Patriot he did tremendously well to even qualify after being very slowly away.

Granted a slicker break and some luck around the first bend Billys Bullet, who made the semi-finals of this competition 12 months ago, is capable of turning the tables on the pick of his form.

Ferryforth Fran drawn to deliver

Wallis also looks to hold leading claims of landing the third quarter-final (19:54) with the well drawn T5 Ferryforth Fran.

The son of College Causeway has been running really well of late and finished a highly creditable third to Fizzypop Buddy in the opening round seven days ago.

Greyhound Racing - William Hill St Leger - Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium

Although held by T2 Maireads Field on their recent meeting at Towcester, Ferryforth Fran ran on strongly to be beaten 2 1/2 lengths and looks nicely housed in this as the sole wide seed.

With Trap 6 vacant he should get acres of space and a lovely clear run to the bend and if turning handy, or possibly even leading, will be a tough nut to crack.

Anitas Baby holds all the aces

T2 Anitas Baby was ultra-impressive in last week’s heats and rates a solid bet in the fourth quarter-final (20:10).

Richard Baker’s bitch showed a tremendous attitude to get up close home and beat Spa Road Piper by 1/2 a length after getting badly crowded at the opening bend.

Greyhounds - Romford Greyhound Stadium

It was a terrific effort given how the race panned out and the daughter of Makeshift is now unbeaten in two runs at the venue.

Anitas Baby also has nothing to fear from T1 Racenight Jenny who she comfortably beat a length on her penultimate start at the track. Although she has a smart performer on her outside in the shape of T3 Rubys Rascal, I wasn’t impressed by the way in which that rival ran the track when runner-up in the heats and therefore very keen to oppose.