The M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup Final In Memory Of Michael Lambe Senior at 9.20 is the first of two brilliant category one finals at Perry Barr this evening. Won last year by Brookside Richie we have another belter in store tonight. It’s a wide open final and a very rare 3/1 the field final.

Trap One – Rioja Bungle
Ballymac Bolger – Bull Run Byte, Sep 22
Mr P A Woodburn – Kevin Hutton

Rioja Bungle is going from strength to strength in his career. Recently out of puppy stage, he won the BGBF Maiden competition at Newcastle earlier in the year. He recently was third to the incredible March On Freddie in the Puppy Classic at Nottingham and has improved for each look at Perry Barr. He put in a brilliant performance in the semi-final last week to catch Long Fellow in 28.03. He is as big as 6/1 for tonight’s final and that doesn’t look a bad price for a dog drawn well on the inside, who stays.

Trap Two – Unanimous Leon
Droopys Sydney – Swift Paradox, Mar 22
Mr T C Heilbron & Mr D C Wilson – Tom Heilbron

Unanimous Leon is a fairly lightly-raced type in the UK who possesses blistering early speed when he gets going. He did it well in last week’s semi-final leading a race with plenty of early pace in it, namely Aero Sacundai and Cunnigar Yousir and went on to beat the strong running Tricky Wiggles by over two lengths in a fast 28.06. He has got one way of winning, popping out, leading and holding on from the strong runners and is 7/2 to do so.

Trap Three – Long Fellow
Droopys Sydney – Away Shelly, Jan 22
Horse & Hound Six Syndicate – Matt Dartnall

Long Fellow is another who has one way of winning and that’s the same way as Unanimous Leon. Flying out the traps to lead and hold on. He did that in round one on a slow track and was denied by a short head in last week’s semi final when clocking 28.04 in defeat. That just shows how open this final is. My concern for Long Fellow is clearing Unanimous Leon. If he is going to, he is in the right trap to do so as dogs can fly from the middle boxes at Perry Barr. Connections will be hoping for a bingo break with him, generally a 4/1 chance for the race.

Trap Four – Aayamza Sydney
Droopys Sydney – Aayamza Breeze, Sep 21
Aayamzaboys Syndicate – John Mullins

Aayamza Sydney is another greyhound who comes into a big final fresh having been off the card since the end of May and been trained to perfection by John Mullins. This trip would be on the sharp side for him, we all know he stays much further than this. To reach the final unbeaten with two power packed finishes is a credit to the dog and connections. The draw in trap four wouldn’t be ideal with plenty of early pace around him so he is going to have to track cleverly here to get a run. He clocked 28.00 when coming from behind to win his semi-final last week and heads into this the 3/1 favourite.

Trap Five – Tricky Wiggles
Droopys Sydney – Mary Goodnight, Jun 22
Mr R Holt – Robert Holt

Tricky Wiggles is another strong runner who ran two big races in defeat to qualify. He is lightly-raced with plenty of improvement still expected in a race that could suit his style. He was behind Unanimous Leon last week when finding plenty of trouble in running so to qualify was a big performance from him. He is as big as 8/1 for the final and that looks a big price to me in a race that could get scrappy in front of him where he can take advantage.

Trap Six – Darley Diglake
Droopys Sydney – Headford Lacken, Mar 22
The Diglakers – Robert Hall

Darley Diglake is the definition of a track specialist and a local favourite. He has serious early pace and if trapping will take some leading to the first bend. He won his first round heat in good style before being beaten a length last week by the strong Aayamza Sydney, but clocked 28.08 in defeat. Same goes for Darley Diglake as it does for Unanimous Leon and Long Fellow. Trap well, lead at the bend and hope to hold on from the strong runners. He is 7/2 generally to give local supporters a Birmingham Cup winner.

Conclusion

This really is a race with mixed running styles. Three early paced dogs in Unanimous Leon, Long Fellow and Darley Diglake. Three strong runners in Rioja Bungle, Aayamza Sydney and Tricky Wiggles. I can see Darley Diglake leading if he comes away and that could spoil the race for the other two front runners. I’m not sure if Aayamza Sydney is going to get the run he needs and that could suit the outsider of the field Tricky Wiggles. If turning close enough to Darley Diglake, he would give him a scare coming home and I believe he will get there with Rioja Bungle back in third. All the best to connections in what is a really intriguing final!!!

1st Tricky Wiggles
2nd Darley Diglake
3rd Rioja Bungle