Guys and Dolls Stakes Betting: Buddy can bring home the lolly

Events / Darrell Williams / 15 September 2008 / Leave a comment

Darrell Williams looks at the betting ahead of Monday night's greyhound action at Crayford.

Crayford's newly elevated Guys and Dolls, now a Category One prize by virtue of its £8,000 winner's stake, has produced a fascinating final this evening.

Sadly for the 'dolls', its highly unlikely to be a 'ladies night', but the battle between Me Buddy and Horseshoe Ping, who square up for the third time in the event is an intriguing one.

The latter is the defending champion, having gone unbeaten through last year's discipline, but faces a far more formidable rival this time in the Peterborough Puppy Derby winner. Horseshoe Ping has not had a bad year - runner-up in the Golden Sprint, and third in the Scurry Gold Cup, another race he also won in 2007, but despite his continued consistency - he has been out of the first three only twice in 17 outings - it's fair to say he's not quite at the same level as when earning the Sprinter of the Year crown back in January.

That said, I was tempted to put him up, given the likely odds in what in effect amounts to a match, but after comfortably accounting for his rival in the semi-final, it's hard to try and take on Me Buddy, who as he proved in that race is mightily difficult to pass once he gets on the bunny, a scenario that I envisage highly likely tonight.

Much was expected of Matt Dartnall's runner after his Peterborough success, and while he couldn't deliver after a rough start in the Classic final at Sunderland, it should be remembered he was [2.0] to beat a classy line-up on that occasion. Having only just returned for this competition, Crayford suits him well, and after a fine run by kennelmate Ballymac Ruso to finish third in the Irish Derby the other night, the Dartnall camp can be the one's collecting the prize this time.

Nottingham's BAGS card tonight, live in the shops, includes three heats of the National Oaks, with defending champion Pond Shakira making most appeal in the 8.19 race. Harry Williams' bitch drops back in trip after contesting the Gold Collar at Belle Vue, but a recent four bend trial in Manchester suggests she remains more than sharp enough.

Steel City Cup finalist Frisby Foxwatch, whose best form is at her home track of Sheffield, faces a tricky task to overcome an unfamiliar trap five slot, so the selection may have most to fear from Genesis Dream, recently back from her seasonal rest.

But Williams remains as shrewd as ever, and will no doubt have had plans for 'Shakira' to attempt a successful defence of her crown for some time.

A Million Maid has already won a Nottingham prize this season, picking up their version of the Guys'n'Dolls, and she should reverse Sheffield form with Miss Tail Told, who beat her in front of Sky cameras the other night. It was a decent field that Laurence Tuffin's runner beat in that earlier final, and this game bitch can confirm her liking for the Colwick circuit.

While Matt Dartnall's attention will be clearly focused on Crayford, Ballymac Sophie can also give the in form kennel more to cheer about by winning the last heat at 8.52. After clocking some good times at Hove, this will be her first 'away trip' since arriving from Ireland, where she ran just once, but she's worth staying with despite the perhaps more obvious claims of recent six bend maiden winner Love Forever, whose trial suggests this will prove more difficult.