One week on, following postponement due to weather, Perry Barr stage the finals of the 2024 M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup and the Premier Greyhound Racing St. Leger.
Birmingham Cup
The £12,500 Birmingham Cup could hardly be more open with the layers making in a 3/1 the field decider. They bet 3/1 Aayamza Sydney, 10/3 Unanimous Leon, 4/1 Darley Diglake, 5/1 Unananimous Leon, 6/1 Rioja Bungle, 8/1 Tricky Wiggles.
Reminder of the semis: Rioja Bungle Unanaimous Leon Aayamza Sydney
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
ST.LEGER
Although the St.Leger has a 96 year history and has been won by some of the greatest stars of the track, no Leger winner has ever successfully defended his/her title.
None has had a better chance than Droopys Clue who will go to traps as the odds-on favourite at around 9.20 this evening.
They bet: 2/5 Droopys Clue, 10/1 Clona Curly, Coonough Crow, 14/1 Hurry Up Jordan, Tuono Bella, 16/1 Trickycinderella
Reminder of the semis Droopys Clue Hurry Up Jordan Clona Curly
Droopys Clue is looking to be the first greyhound in history to go back-to-back in the competition. That would cement his place as one of the very best greyhounds that fans have had the privilege to watch perform over the last couple of years. He is as short as 2/7 and as big as 2/5 to write his name in the history books from a good draw in trap one. If winning the sprint leg, he will take some stopping. His 42.44 in round one was sensational, however, he had to work hard in his semi-final when leading later than usual. He had to battle to beat Trickycinderella but to still clock 42.74 was an equally impressive run. He takes all the beating.
Coonough Crow in trap two is a real credit to connections. Whichever six or eight-bend trip she gets put over, she finds a way to make it through to these big finals. This competition has been no different. Two professional second place finishes in heats and semi-final see her heading into this race as second favourite, but can be backed at 10/1. She is going to have to avoid Droopys Clue and Tuono Bella but she is the one who could give Droopys Clue all the room he needs at the first bend.
Tuono Bella is another who has made two big finals this year. She contested the Golden Jacket Final at Crayford and the Hunt Cup Final at Oxford. Seasonal rest gave her plenty of of time off before restarting at Central Park in graded four bend company. That was followed by a gradual step up in trip to Crayford’s 540m, warming her up for a tilt at the Leger. A game success in round one was followed by a close finish second in the semi-final. She is going to need the break of her life to lead and hopefully hold on. There could be worse 14/1 each way bets, however.
Clona Curly has been stepped up in trip the last couple of months, and has found a track and trip that suits. He takes a couple of bends to get going but once he gets into full stride with a full lap to go, he shows how fast he is. That was shown when catching Tuono Bella last week and holding on to win his semi-final. He is going to need to keep himself to himself between bends one and two and then look to use that pace to take him to the front. If he manages to find himself off the fourth bend in front of them, he is a big player and is a 10/1 chance to land the spoils.
Trickycinderella is another who has put in two consistent second place finishes in heats and semi-final They include a length defeat to Droopys Clue last week when closing in on him late on. She has only had three races away from her local track Sheffield, her last three all at Perry Barr. She’s taken to the track extremely well, heading into this race the 16/1 outsider. Her performances have shown she is here on merit, and is looking to go one better than heats and semi.
Hurry Up Jordan has had a sensational return to racing. He’s gone unbeaten through this competition having not raced competitively since March 29. That is testament to his trainer John Lambe. He has shown his versatility by winning differently. In round one, he left it until the last bend to lead when winning by half a length. In last week’s semi-final, he led at the third bend going on to beat Coonough Crow by three parts of a length. He is drawn to go well and although doesn’t have the times to match some of his rivals, he will certainly keep himself to himself out wide. As such, he should be in all forecast and tricast bets, with 14/1 available for today’s decider.
Conclusion
I was trying to find a way to get Droopys Clue beaten but I found it extremely difficult to do so. He is a true superstar of the sport that we should all get behind and celebrate. If he traps on terms, he is in front at the first bend. Therefore, he is in front at the winning line first time round. From there, he wins the race as he opens up down the far side before heading for home. So, it’s Droopys Clue for me with Hurry Up Jordan finishing second and Coonough Crow in third. Good Luck to all Connections!
1st Droopys Clue – 2nd Hurry Up Jordan – 3rd Coonough Crow
