By Tony Bullen - 5 September 2024
It’s a huge night at Perry Barr on Saturday with the PGR St Leger and M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup taking place.
The first ever St Leger took place in 1928 at Wembley Stadium and stayed at the then Twin Towers venue until 1998. Wimbledon took over from 1999-2016 and since 2017 the prestigious event has now found its third home over the 710m trip at Perry Barr.
Droopys Clue really was sensational when winning this event last year and Seamus Cahill’s charge could create history by becoming the first dog to retain the title.
His exploits in reaching the Sussex Cup final and most recently when winning the Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore prove he still in his prime. Returning to a stiff six bends isn’t necessarily going to be a walk in the park for Droopys Clue, but the likelihood he can get off the front in any race he contests throughout this event, suggests it really will take something special to stop the sensational Hove raider going all the way once again.
There was a lot to like about the way Haka Carlo accounted for Kent St Leger star Coonough Crow in a trial stake and Jason Heath’s charge could give connections a real buzz by going deep. A knack of being able to turn in a prominent pitch or tuck in behind and come from just off the pace are a key attribute to Haka Carlo’s consistency on his travels.
Magical Luna is a bitch who is making an impact over six and eight bends and her battling qualities could easily see her keep on qualifying. Kim Billingham’s bitch is worth including on that basis, plus the fact she is racing over a demanding six-bend distance that could also play to her strengths.
The Birmingham Cup consists of many of those that have brute early pace so the margin for error is going to be minimal.
Links Maverick boasts a superb CV to his name and has gone toe-to-toe with the best throughout his career. He faded in the Select Stakes at Nottingham, but is sure to prove popular having broken the 28-second barrier in a prep trial over the 480m trip. However, he was also strongly fancied to steal the show in the Laurels over C&D back in April only to be narrowly eliminated from the semi-finals.
Another who has been showing a proper injection of early pace is Aero Sacundai. He broke the sprint clock at Towcester and went onto to capture the Pall Mall at Oxford. He cramped-up when making an early exit from the first round of the Laurels, but that was his first race after a layoff and is another who rightly deserves to be at the head of the ante-post market.
Droopys Extragud has only just turned two years old, but connections have seen their pride and joy progress pretty well in his career as a puppy.
He chased home Wicky Ned in the Gymcrack at Sheffield in April, contested the Puppy Cup final at Sunderland and most recently the Puppy Classic final behind the awesome March On Freddie.
It’s a slight concern that Droopys Extragud heads into this event without a look round, but all signs suggest that track & trip will suit. If he can dodge a bullet in what appears to be a tricky first round assignment, Heather Dimmock’s dog possesses sufficient all-round pace to ruffle more than a few feathers.
Selections
St Leger:
Droopys Clue (available at 6/4 with AK Bets)
Magical Luna (available at 20/1 with AK Bets)
Birmingham Cup:
Droopys Extragud (availalbe at 20/1 with AK Bets)
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