GO WITH BLUE LORD

BEATEN only once in five starts as a novice, Blue Lord might start his second season as a chaser by taking the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase, the annual feature at Clonmel.

Willie Mullins (inset) has won the Clonmel Oil six times in the last decade and runs both Blue Lord, a dual Grade 1 winner as a novice, and last year’s King George winner Tornado Flyer, who must concede weight to his three rivals.

Tornado Flyer, whose form also includes creditable efforts behind the likes of Min and Allaho, disappointed in top company in the wake of his Kempton victory over Clan Des Obeaux – in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Punchestown Gold Cup and French Champion

Hurdle – and might struggle over today’s trip on his seasonal debut.

Blue Lord won four of his five starts as a novice, scoring at Fairyhouse and Naas before landing the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown, when admittedly fortunate to beat Riviere D’etel.

He filled third spot behind Edwardstone in the Arkle at Cheltenham and ended his season with a narrow victory over Coeur Sublime in a Grade 1 at Punchestown.

Essentially a two-miler, Blue Lord has tackled two and a half miles only once, when runner-up to Bob

Olinger in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle in Naas.

But he jumps particularly well, which will help him stay. And, with Paul Townend in the saddle, he might prove best today.

Tornado Flyer, at his best, would take plenty of beating. And we must not underestimate Gordon Elliott’s long-absent Pencilfulloflead and Joseph O’brien’s tough and consistent performer Darasso, narrowly beaten by Hewick in the Galway Plate and third behind Busselton in the Kerry National last time.

Two and a half miles in soft ground look ideal conditions for Darasso and he may be a major threat to Blue Lord, who’s expected to score if coping with the trip.