Port Jeff looksa safe haven for punters
Successful on the flat at Tramore, the eight-year-old was an unlucky loser over flights at Ballinrobe on his latest appearance.
He looked sure to score on the run to the last, but was none too clever at the obstacle and was worried out of it close home and beaten three parts of a length by Maxi. That contest was over two and a half miles and there's little doubt this two miles is short of the selection's best.
But against moderate enough opposition Port Jeff can get through, particularly if Shay Barry makes plenty of use of his undoubted stamina!
Noel Meade's Deep Return has a leading chance in the three miles and a furlong Mullingar Handicap Chase.
Handicappers are often accused of over-reacting to performances, but that certainly isn't the case with Deep Return.
He struck form with a vengeance over this course and distance last month when taking a beginners chase by 19 lengths.
The handicapper's reaction was mildly surprising, in that he only put Deep Return up 4lbs, and he has to get the nod to make the best of that apparent generosity.
The Bumper has little or no depth to it and Christy Roche's Golden Aran looks the one to beat, even if he did go down by ten lengths to Aldaher Beebers at Ballinrobe. Stepping up another couple of furlongs now should help.
