RIOJA BUNGLE reeled in longtime leader Darley Diglake to land a British-bred one-two and a thrilling victory in the M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup In Memory of Michael Lambe Senior as Perry Barr successfully rescheduled the Category One event last weekend.

After racing was abandoned due to heavy rain seven days perviously, the track worked with the trainers involved to seek a date to try again and a sizeable crowd at the Midlands venue turned out again to see not just Droopys Clue win historic back-to-back St Legers, but Kevin Hutton continue his fine run of form in the £12,500 480m decider.

After landing a recent clean sweep in the BGBF 78th Produce Stakes Final at Swindon, Huttonn and partner Donna Witchells, once again ably assisted by assistant Mark Studer, sent out the Paul Woodburn-owned Rioja Bungle to land a second big-race success in 2024 after his May victory in the BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby Final at Newcastle.

However, it needed a last-to-first success to take the title. Slowly away as local star Darley Diglake (Robert Hall) set the tempo out wide, the September 2022 son of Ballymac Bolger and Bull Run Byte took advantage as his rivals ahead crowded up, enabling him to move through rounding the first two bends and have the leader in his sights.

Powering down the back-straight, but still with plenty of do, Rioja Bungle closed in on the Darley Diglake and hit the front on the run for home for a length success in 28.22sec (-12).

The victory delighted owner Woodburn, who said: “Saturday was my biggest win as an owner in many years of trying – and, after the day and week I had, I never thought it would happen! I was pretty ill the week before when the meeting was abandoned – I hid it well! Then, a week later we had a tyre blowout on the motorway heading up from watching Oxford in the afternoon. You just begin to think its not your day again!

“I’m just so happy. Myself and Sarah love our greyhound racing and nights like Saturday make everything worthwhile – it was quite emotional if truth be told!”

Winning trainer Hutton added: “Myself and Donna had a look at the race and just felt his best chance was to follow them round and try to out-stay them. Obviously that would have difficult had it been, say, John’s dog (Aayamza Sydney), but things worked out for us and he’s done really well to pick up Darley Diglake, who’s a really nice dog for Robert (Hall) and difficult to beat at home. Bungle had to be at his best to get him.

“The intention had been to head to Sheffield for the (BresBet) Steel City Cup but the week’s delay after they cancelled because of the weather means it’s the (BGBF) Stud Book Trophy at Towcester next.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=417887&raceId=1072873