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The St Leger's hotting up and my selections are hanging in there...

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Wimbledon commentator Darrell Williams previews Friday night's line-up

The quarter-finals of the William Hill St Leger, set for Friday night, dominate Wimbledon's line-up this weekend, and with few surprises in the opening round get ready for some big name clashes in which something has to give.

Marathon star Spiridon Louis, suggested as 'overpriced' at double figure odds in this column last week, is now clear favourite after clocking the fastest time in the heats, but could hardly have drawn a hotter heat at 21.00. That said, his stamina should still see him through, and so too hopefully Foulden Special, my main ante-post selection, who showed excellent track craft to qualify from a tricky draw last weekend. Pushed out slightly in the betting given his defeat, he might be worth a small play up on initial stakes. However, it's Ballymac Weeshie who I actually fancy to win the race, especially if he can repeat the early pace he showed last week. Admittedly, a dog I under-estimated in my initial preview, it's not too late to add him to your ante-post portfolio.

Jazz Hurricane, who I put forward as a good trading prospect at over 26 (25/1) before the first round, is now close to single figures, and should qualify from the 20:15 heat, but it's Westmead Aoifa who I fancy to come out on top. In a race jam-packed with front runners, Nick Savva's bitch, looks ideally situated to wear down her rivals who are not blessed with similar levels of stamina. I'm also hopeful that a trap one draw inside a middle-mover might also see Masterpiece qualify

By comparison the other two quarter-finals are easier to figure out, with Iceman Brutus taken to win the 20:00 race, probably at the expense of Vatican Jinky, while in the 21:15 contest, undoubtedly the weakest of the four heats, I take Fitzroy Sydney to just shade it ahead of Shelbourne Rich. Both incidentally represent decent ante-post trading angles for the back and lay player given their expected qualification. The Leger continues with the semi-finals next Tuesday ahead of the final, live on Sky Sports, the following Tuesday, 30th October.

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The hard working trio of racing stewards' were put under even great pressure during the Leger heats last Saturday, when deputy Owen Winkley was rushed to hospital with breathing problems during the high-profile meeting, but happily was back at his desk on Monday morning.

The Broadway Restaurant, out of action during the summer, has now re-opened ahead of the busy Christmas period.

While the shortage of runners at the track has been well documented recently, few realised the problem had got as bad as to the need to draft in a dog from Belgium! Well perhaps not quite as Geldrops Stride, bred on the continent, and a regular runner in his homeland, has returned for a second spell at Plough Lane, having previously graded here back in the spring.

Top pick for the notebook is Droopys Whisper, who sluiced up in A6 grade last Tuesday and looks one to follow. Norah McEllistrim's youngster overcame middle to wide bias by gaining the only trap one win of the night, and should be backed until beaten.

Others to keep on the right side of are Shelbourne Perri, a dual distance performer for John Simpson, Baran Kylie, who can continue to pay her way after season, and Well Park Star, especially when returned to six bends.