Can Mr Blonde Be King Of Glin?

All roads lead to the smashing new field at Glin this weekend where we see the return of last year’s Irish Cup semi finalist and Clonmel Champion Stakes…

…winner Mr Blonde (6/4) in the featured Desmond Cup. The Brendan Matthews trained runner is likely to be a short priced favourite to go one step further than he did 12 months ago. On that occasion he was unlucky in that he got quite a bit to do on his way to the final and lost out to Latest Trick.

It is easy to understand why he will start favourite to win the 2014 Desmond Cup as he was so consistent all last year.

I feel the new field will play into the paws of Blonde perfectly and I fully expect him to kick start his 2014/15 campaign with a win.

However Mr Blonde won’t have it all his own way. In the top half of the draw we have the John Flynn trained Sturdyandstaunch (5/2), an impressive winner of his Derby trial stake last season in Ballyheigue. Following that performance, Boylesports laid some hefty bets on this dog to win the Boylesports Derby but unfortunately for his supporters they left their money behind them. John Flynn rarely leaves this meeting empty handed so it will be no surprise if he is bringing the Desmond Cup a few miles back down the road to Tarbert on Sunday evening.

In the same half as Mr Blonde we have a good value alternative in Lochbo Charlie (8/1). He is another who impressed when winning his Derby Trial Stake at North Kilkenny in December but unfortunately had to be withdrawn before the Boylesports Derby got underway. This Cork runner could potentially trouble Mr Blonde in this second half of the draw if he has matured and progressed over the summer. The Spillane’s certainly won’t be travelling from West Cork just for the scenery around Glin!

The All Aged Bitch Stake at Glin is always a hugely competitive event and this year will be no different with no fewer than eight trial stake winners. However the one that I really like is Careful Betty (6/4). She clocked up fastest in the first round of the Oaks last season and held her clock in the second round too before bowing out to Skellig Blues.

By all accounts Mossy O Connor has this bitch raring to go for Glin and I’m confident she will collect the nice pot and four Champion Stake points for him. Of the others I was a real big fan of Ballyverry Snowy (5/1) last season. An extremely fast bitch, a tendency to lose sight of her game is the only negative, but I’m sure Dougal and Bart Leahy will have her on her toes this season. If she takes to this field she may well represent the best value.

The Derby Trial Stake at Glin has produced some great champions and the 2014 renewal looks top notch if breeding is anything to go by. The ones who stand out for me are Ardfert Donal (4/1) (Bexhill Brian x Gadget Girl) At All Times (4/1) (Skellig Wish x Skellig Babe) and Hackers Paradise (5/1)(Kyle Ranger x Ocean Tolula). In Oaks Trial Stake the ones I like are Go On Baby (5/1) (Thomas The Tank x Lady Delight), Valentia Girl (5/1)(Caesar Music x Rushing) and Leigh Blaze (4/1)( Murtys Blaze x Leigh Countess).

As always, prices are available from Boylesports on these four feature events at Glin and for the trial stakes and All Age Cup at Ennis/Clarecastle this weekend also.

Best Bet : Mr Blonde 6/4
Best Outsider : Ballyverry Snowey 5/1