High hopes for Joe

Declan McNamara is excited about the future after seeing Mossey Joe make an impressive start to his novice chasing career at Killarney on Tuesday evening.

The eight-year-old was a Grade Three winner over hurdles when trained by Willie Austin and ran an excellent race to fill the runner-up spot in a Grade Two at the Punchestown Festival on his first start for his new handler.

The giant chestnut had no trouble scoring at Killarney and McNamara is looking to give him more experience before his summer holidays.

“We’re delighted to have him in the yard – he’s a lovely horse to have,” said McNamara.

“He showed some decent form over hurdles but he’s over 17 hands and has the real stamp of a chaser about him.

“He was my second winner and we only have seven horses riding out at the moment, so to have one like him is a dream come true really.

“His jumping was a bit iffy at times, so I’d like to give him one more run somewhere before he goes out for the summer at grass.

“If the ground stays safe, he’ll be out again somewhere in around a fortnight.

“We’ll take each race as it comes, but you’d like to think he’ll do well in novice chases.

“He deliberately didn’t run over fences until the new season started and now he’s a novice until next year. He stays all day and hopefully we’ll have some fun with him.”