Paddy Flood on Bolger's Glebe House listing - 'I’d nearly want Jim’s brain for the €4 million'

Two major property stories have been in the headlines in Ireland over the past week.

First, more than 300 acres of land formerly owned by legendary trainer Dermot Weld have reportedly been transferred to Luke Comer and his two sons, according to the Sunday Independent.

Meanwhile, another multiple Classic-winning trainer, Jim Bolger, has made headlines of his own. The 85-year-old has placed his iconic 150-acre Glebe House property on the market, with an asking price of €4 million.

On this week’s Irish Angle show, Johnny Ward and Paddy Flood gave their thoughts on the emerging news.

Weld land sold to Comer and sons

“Luke Comer rose from being basically a plasterer at a young age to being a billionaire.

“He’s not a fellow who lives an ostentatious life at all, he’ll still be seen on the tractor.

“He’s one of these lads who seems to be completely driven, driven, driven by the accumulation of wealth, even though he doesn’t really live that way, for all that he lives in Monaco.

“I don’t think he’s a flashy fellow at all if you met him. He really prospered in the recession because, unfortunately, the recession basically made rich people richer.

“If you had money, you were able to just buy up loads of things for very little money, and people like me couldn’t get a mortgage because banks weren’t lending. So, it was more of a concentration of wealth.

“But Luke Comer worked his way up, bought loads of land and properties, and is extremely wealthy now.

“Dermot Weld, understandably, when the Sunday Independent did the story, declined to comment, as is his right.

“But I have to say, Dermot Weld would be a bit of a legend for me. He’s a unique individual and I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for him.

“Also, the nature of his brilliance in training, what he did in Melbourne when nobody said it was possible in the ’90s, the globe-trotting aspect of it, and his general longevity in the game. Part of me was quite sad when I read this, to be honest.”

Jim Bolger lists Glebe House for sale

Jim Bolger’s iconic Glebe House was listed for sale for €4 million. A top-class training facility that’s produced nearly 3,000 winners, over 50 Group Ones, and 13 Classics. It feels for many like the end of an era.

Paddy Flood commented: “It is the end of an era. It’s unfortunate that Jim doesn’t seem to have anyone to take it over - probably the same as Kevin Prendergast.

“Dermot Weld was like the greatest thing of all time, and Kevin Prendergast, when you went into Kildare town, everyone was hired by Kevin or Dermot. You always knew someone who was in Kevin’s or Dermot’s.

“Albeit Kevin Prendergast passed away and there was no one to really run the ship. Like Johnny, I feel a bit down about the Dermot Weld news.

“Now, we haven’t got the full story, but there’s no smoke without fire, and it doesn’t smell good. That Luke Comer has come in and taken over a bit of land. But Luke Comer has bought a lot of land on the Curragh, a lot of stable yards there.

“You’d worry for Jim Bolger. Very unique people can spend €4 million on a house with gallops.

“You’re basically buying the land, because there’s no house worth that, it’s the gallops themselves and the land.

“Unless you’re at the top table, there aren’t too many who can fork out €4 million.

“So, will it be lost to other development, or will someone be able to take it over and run a business out of it?

“There’s no doubt that Jim Bolger’s gallops work, and the system that was there worked. But I’d nearly want Jim’s brain for the €4 million, to be honest with you - to tell you how to do it if you were paying that money.

Johnny Ward continued: “You had this really strange situation when I got into racing. You had Aidan O’Brien, who seems to have never aged, but other than that, the four big trainers - Jim Bolger, John Oxx, Dermot Weld, Kevin Prendergast - none of them had an heir apparent who was obviously going to take over.

“Dermot’s sons have been involved, but there was never a clear suggestion it would just continue on. The other three had no heir apparent whatsoever. It was a weird situation.

“Now Jim is 85 this year. He’s lived a very healthy life.

“What you’re nearly looking for here is an owner to say, ‘I’m going to back a trainer big time. I’m going to put money into this and install a trainer here to train for me.’ That’s what Paddy’s alluding to, this is a lot of money to pay. Trainers aren’t going to be able to afford this type of money.

“But somebody who goes in there, I spoke to Jim about this lately, and he’s philosophical about getting old, they’re getting a hell of a head start with those facilities. Jim has worked since the ’80s to get to where he is today.”

Watch the full Irish Angle show