The draw for the next stage of the Birmingham Cup has been made as below. Favourite Ballymac Under looks to have been given a good opportunity to progress to the final from the first semi. Farloe Hurricane, another promising youngster and second favourite overall, has been given a tougher assignment is a hot looking second qualifier.

THURSDAY JANUARY 17
PERRY BARR

19.52 480M THE STAN JAMES BIRMINGHAM CUP 1ST SEMI FINAL

1 BALLYMAC UNDER
2 BARNFIELD WEEMAN
3 PRIMITIVE WAY
4 LENSON EARL
5 FARLOE NIALL (W)
6 POND ASTRONAUT (W)

20.38 480M THE STAN JAMES BIRMINGHAM CUP 2ND SEMI FINAL

1 PIN HEAD
2 WRIGHT SIGNAL
3 CLEENAS LADY
4 FARLOE HURRICANE
5 DROOPYS TOBEY (M)
6 UNIQUE OPTION (M)

21.28 480M THE STAN JAMES BIRMINGHAM CUP 3RD SEMI FINAL

1 LIVELY ARTHUR
2 MARWILLS SILVER
3 STORMY SCHOLES (M)
4 LAST MOHICAN (M)
5 ICEMAN ROSS (W)
6 NOIRS TED (W)

The latest betting is available here.

The decider of the Prestige is Sky's first live offering of the year coming from Hall Green on Tuesday.

Only five dogs go to the traps with old rogue Romford Car Two being disqualified for 'fighting' in the semi's.

Speed Figs

T5 - Directors Chair 100
T2 - Killieford Raven 73
T3 - Glittering Aries 72+
T1 - Tuftys Pearletta 52
T6 - Westmead Liz 37

The figs are on a scale of 8 points per length making Directors Chair over three lengths clear on the numbers.

Mark Wallis' dog won the Midland St Leger over course and distance in December and had both Glittering Aries and Killieford Raven behind him on that occasion. There is a slight worry with Directors Choice being drawn in trap 5 but the empty box on his inside should help. I expect him to lead from the first bend and stay there, the 5/4 currently available seems fair enough to me.

Bet - 25 points to win on Directors Chair at 5/4