Jesse Evans (right) © Photo Healy Racing
The betting was fascinating in the last few minutes before the Belfield (Q.R.) Race and the market got this one right as Jesse Evans (backed in from 9/4) got the better of fellow 13/8 joint-favourite Tax For Max who had eased out from 10/11.
Declan Lavery angled out from behind the leaders early in the straight on Noel Meade's seven-year-old and that secured him first run on the more patiently-ridden Tax For Max.
Jesse Evans struck the front inside the final furlong and, although Patrick Mullins conjured a strong finish from his mount down the outside, Lavery didn't have to get overly serious with his partner who held on by half a length.
Second and fourth in the last two renewals of the Galway Hurdle, Jesse Evans will again head west in early August according to Meade.
“He’d a very easy race the other day in Bellewstown and when I looked at that race I thought we’ll get another run into him.
“That should leave him fairly spot on for Galway. It’s a week earlier than we ran him last year when we went to Killarney which was a bit too close to Galway.
“I’d say he’ll be put in the amateur race as well but I’d imagine the Galway Hurdle will probably be the one we’ll go for.
“He just got nailed by Tudor City last year.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
