Ladbrokes Gold Cup Betting: Blonde Dino set to impress in the heats

Events / Darrell Williams / 10 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

Darrrell Williams is looking forward to the Ladbrokes Gold Cup heats on Monday night at Monmore. Superstar hounds Boherna On Air and Blonde Dino are ones to keep an eye on but they're not the only potential winners...

Monday afternoon's fare gets a big boost with the heats of the Ladbrokes Gold Cup - Monmore's major event of the year - screened live into the betting shops. And for good measure, the semi-finals, the following Monday, and the £10,000 final on Friday week will also be shown, both backed by a variety of supporting competitions.

As is to be expected, this year's Gold Cup is not short on quality, and with an added competitive edge. That said, a couple of greyhounds, Blonde Dino and Boherna On Air, do immediately stand out as being at a level above their rivals.

The former has had a brilliant season for John Mullins, finishing third in the Derby before somewhat surprisingly winning the prestigious one off Dundalk International. But it's his highly impressive Monmore record that makes him the dog to beat outright.

Unbeaten in five starts at the circuit, he first made his name under the guise of Rough Ronaldinho by going unbeaten through the always competitive Midland Puppy Derby in March 2007, before returning to break the track-record, often also referred to as the world record given Monmore's exceptionally fast surface, last autumn. A competition dog of the highest order, he can also boost a recent 'clock' at Perry Barr, and despite the open nature of the Gold Cup could still arguably be termed over-priced. Undoubtedly he is the number one pick for the portfolio.

Boherna On Air, like his rival, has yet to taste defeat at Monmore, with an unbeaten tally of four wins highlighted by his victory in the same competition last year. While this season hasn't matched last year's exploits, which also included a win in the Gymcrack as a puppy, he nevertheless reached the Derby quarter-finals, and most recently finished third in the Munster Derby during a spell in Ireland. A recent sharp trial suggests he is ready to fire again at the Wolverhampton venue and is another to have on your side.

While the two aforementioned suggestions sit at the head of the market, I'd also recommend a couple of more speculative picks ante post, albeit to lesser stakes. Marbeck Wonder, who admittedly faces a tough heat (2.27) against Blonde Dino and Tyrur Rocky, still looks open to improvement after finishing runner-up in the Coventry Summer Derby, and was also second in the Summer Festival '480' here behind Ninja Jamie in June.

Having shot through the local grades, General Cargo was not disgraced in the Sussex Cup final at Hove last month, and can pick up the thread in the second heat (3.07). The presence of Boherna On Air is not ideal, but with three qualifiers, he should comfortably come through for Pat Cowdrill.

For those looking to play on Monday's heats, the third heat (3.48) can also fall to Cowdrill courtesy of the well drawn Saleen Aoife. The fourth heat (4.27) looks competitive, but I'd take Iceman Arnie to make all, while Boherna Best picks himself in heat five (5.07), Local runner Clydeview is always one to respect in these events and gets the vote in heat six (5.38).