Joe can make most of weight concession
Hannah Lee’s charge landed a bumper by a street at Cork back in April and then made a winning reappearance over flights at Roscommon last month.
In testing conditions and over this afternoon’s trip — two and a half miles — he coasted home four and three quarter lengths in front of the moderate Charlie Swift.
Laganbank is on a four-timer and did his job nicely at Listowel last time when proving a length too good for the smart Alderwood.
There is little doubt Laganbank has the best form, but seems to possess plenty of speed and Just For Joe is fancied to outstay him, in receipt of 6lbs.
Former winning pointer, Mount Benbulben, can take the CCTV Control Maiden Hurdle. Formerly trained by Gillian O’Callaghan, he is now in the care of Gordon Elliott and carries Barry Connell’s colours for the first time.
The selection looked a possible star of the future when rounding off last season with an eight lengths defeat of Willie Mullins’ highly-rated Lovethehigherlaw at Limerick in March.
The form got a massive boost when Lovethehigherlaw went on to beat Waaheb in a Grade 1 bumper at the Punchestown festival.
There should be lots of pace on in the Grade 3 Faber Audiovisual Ballybrit Novice Chase, with Foildubh and Regal d’Estruval in the field.
Westmeath, who got off the mark at the first time of asking over fences at Gowran Park, is fancied to cut them down through the last half mile.
Jessica Harrington’s Jenari, third behind Lovethehigherlaw and Waaheb at Punchestown, should prove hard to beat in the Corrib Oil Sean Cleary Memorial Maiden Hurdle.
At Galway tomorrow Charles Byrnes’ Fists Of Fury can land the nap in the W B Galvin And Co EBF Beginners Chase.
He was ordinary enough over hurdles, but this game looks much more his cup of tea. He made a promising start when fourth to On The Way Out at Punchestown and can be expected to come on for that.
Charlie Swan’s Sands Cove created a big impression when cruising to a ten lengths win at Roscommon and will be a popular choice in the Bumper.
He could be anything, but Valleymount, a creditable third behind Samain and Shadow Eile at the Curragh in April, has a more solid appearance and is preferred.
