BROOKSIDE RICHIE added another major title to his fantastic CV when winning the M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup In Memory of M Lambe Senior at Perry Barr on Saturday.

Trained by Jimmy and Melanie Fenwick for Richie Vickers, the October 2019 son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Greatest missed the break but crucially took advantage when things opened up ahead of him as Bockos Crystal (Graham Holland) and fast-breaking Hawkfield Ozark (Patrick Janssens) came together at the turn.

Diving into the lead, as most of the field was caught up in scrimmaging including Rioja Joey (Kevin Hutton) who had trapped well outside, Brookside Richie was away and gone and never looked in danger thereafter as he crossed the line a length and a half clear of the staying-on Forest Icon (Kevin Hutton) in 28.27sec (normal).

Winner of the 2021 Juvenile Classic and Romford Puppy Cup for David Mullins before switching to the Fenwicks’ Morpeth base in Northumberland, victories in the Select Stakes at Nottingham last year and Northern Flat at Newcastle this year followed before the weekend’s £12,500 decider success at the Birmingham venue.

A delighted winning trainer Jimmy Fenwick admitted that a slow start in such a pace-heavy 480m decider worked in the near senior’s favour, commenting: “For once, it’s helped that he missed the break tonight but then he’s taken his chance well when things opened up the way they did at the first bend and he was away.

“It was probably one of the best four-bend line-ups we’ve seen this year and, with so much pace on show, something had to give I suppose – and we were in the best place.

“Then again, this dog absolutely deserves this. Remember he turns four years of age in a week or so’s time but is still competing with – and beating – the very best. I’m just delighted for his owner Richie Vickers. He’s at the kennels every Sunday morning with black pudding for the dog – and it’s not done him any harm!

“I’d say we’re likely to retire Brookside Richie at the end of the year – after a crack at the All England Cup at Newcastle. He might take in the Steel City Cup at Sheffield beforehand. We’ll see.

“Many thanks to John (Lambe, Perry Barr trainer) and his family for this sponsorship. The Birmingham Cup is a great competition and myself and Melanie always enjoy coming to Perry Barr – winning always helps, of course!”

Lambe, who also dedicated Saturday’s race to his mother Philomena who passed away recently, reiterated his committment to the Birmingham Cup. “Hopefully we’ll be back for another Birmingham Cup next year at Perry Barr. Of course, there still remains talk of Wolverhampton but either way we’d be keen to keep the support going.

“Tonight’s race probably wasn’t the way we hoped it’d go, but what a fantastic line-up and a top-class winner in Brookside Richie so well done to Jimmy, Melanie and the team.”