Rioja Bungle Snatches Victory
In an electrifying conclusion to the M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup In Memory of Michael Lambe Senior, Rioja Bungle surged past Darley Diglake in the final moments to secure a stunning British-bred one-two at Perry Barr last weekend. The Category One event, rescheduled after a rain delay the previous week, drew an eager crowd to witness a dramatic finish.
Following the postponement due to torrential rain, the track coordinated with trainers to find a new date for the race. The Midlands venue welcomed back spectators, who also witnessed Droopys Clue make history with consecutive St Leger wins. Meanwhile, Kevin Hutton extended his impressive form by clinching the £12,500 480m title.
Hutton, fresh from a flawless win in the BGBF 78th Produce Stakes Final at Swindon, teamed up with his partner Donna Witchells and assistant Mark Studer once again. Together, they sent out Paul Woodburn’s Rioja Bungle for a second major triumph of 2024, following his victory in the BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby Final at Newcastle in May.
However, this time, Rioja Bungle had to stage a dramatic comeback from last place to clinch the title. After a slow start, with local favourite Darley Diglake setting the early pace, the September 2022 son of Ballymac Bolger and Bull Run Byte capitalised on his rivals’ congestion at the first two bends. He gradually closed the gap, keeping Darley Diglake in his sights.
As they charged down the back straight, Rioja Bungle still had plenty of work to do but showed determination, overtaking Darley Diglake in the final stretch to win by a length in 28.22 seconds (-12).
Owner Paul Woodburn expressed his joy after the victory, admitting that the win was especially meaningful after an eventful week. He reflected on the challenges he faced, including a blowout on the motorway on his way to the race and a tough week when he had been feeling unwell. Woodburn shared that after the setbacks, winning the Birmingham Cup made all the difficulties worthwhile, bringing an emotional high point to his racing career.
Trainer Kevin Hutton explained that they had devised a strategy for Rioja Bungle to follow the leaders and outlast them in the final stages. Though it would have been tough if the race had gone differently, he was thrilled with how Rioja Bungle managed to reel in Darley Diglake, a strong competitor on his home track.
Looking ahead, Hutton mentioned that the original plan was to enter the Steel City Cup in Sheffield, but the week-long delay due to weather has shifted their focus to the BGBF Stud Book Trophy at Towcester instead.