Joe target to be decided Brother Joe was this morning finally ruled out of tomorrow`s Smurfit Champion Hurdle - but his Festival target has yet to be finalised.Connections are mulling over whether to run Sir Robert Ogden`s hope in either Wednesday`s Coral Eurobet Cup or Thursday`s Bonusprint Stayers` Hurdle.Barry Simpson, Ogden`s racing manager, said today: 'The ground will probably make up our minds.'If it is on the soft side of good then he will probably run in the handicap, but if it is good ground then the Stayers` is likely.'Simpson believes red-hot favourite Baracouda is beatable in the Stayers`, and he continued: 'On good ground I think Baracouda can be beaten as I think the track could be a problem for him.'We didn`t declare Brother Joe for the Champion as we just didn`t think we had enough hard evidence to suggest two miles would be right. We also had three top jockeys - Mick Fitzgerald, Richard Johnson and Ruby Walsh - who said he needed further than two miles.'Turning his attention to Marlborough`s crack at Thursday`s Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, Simpson added: 'We would like it to be good ground for him, although we are not too concerned if it softens up a bit. He`s in very good form.'
