Joes Edge Set To Meet Irish National Hero At Punchestown Trainer Ferdy Murphy today revealed that he is likely to run Saturday´s Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National winner Joes Edge in what is shaping up to be a brilliant renewal of the EUR100,000 betfair.com Novice Handicap Chase at Punchestown´s Irish National Hunt Festival next Friday, April 29. An intriguing clash is on the cards in the 3m 1f event at Punchestown between Joes Edge, who held on to beat Cornish Rebel in a photo at Ayr, and the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National hero Numbersixvalverde. Ferdy Murphy said today: 'We gave Joes Edge a canter yesterday and a couple of canters this morning and we are giving the betfair.com Novice Handicap Chase serious thought. We hadn´t actually considered it until Janet Williamson from Punchestown phoned and told us all the pros and cons about going and she´s made a lot of valid points. I´ve spoken to the owner and he´s leaving the decision up to me. 'The girl who rides him all the time, Mindy, says he´s in fantastic order so we´ll sit down and probably make a final decision on Friday. If he runs, Keith Mercer will ride again. 'He showed the other day at Ayr that staying wouldn´t be a problem and at Liverpool, he proved that two and a half miles is alright. He also had two very good runs over two miles and five furlongs at Cheltenham.' Meanwhile Co Kildare handler Martin Brassil confirmed that Numbersixvalverde is on course for the race. He said today: 'We hope to run Numbersixvalverde in the betfair.com Novice Handicap Chase. He seems to be very well after Fairyhouse and that race doesn´t seem to have taken a lot out of him, visibly anyway, but you never really know. 'Often horses go out in a field and then when they come back they don´t run as well as before - so while he´s fit and well and while the ground is soft, we might as well keep going with him. He would learn nothing new at home, but he might learn something new on the racecourse. 'I am very happy with him and looking forward to running him if the ground remains soft - he won´t run if it gets any harder. 'He´s gone up 28lb in the weights and this will be a big test for him and a fairly new experience as his three wins in handicaps so far have been mainly against second or third season chasers - now he´s going to be taking on the best staying novices around.' The betfair.com Novice Handicap Chase boasts a glittering entry that also includes the brilliant mare Like-A-Butterfly, who scored at Aintree earlier this month, Another Rum, the winner of the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham who went on to finish third in the Scottish National, War Of Attrition, who shaped as if a step up in trip would suit when second over two miles at Aintree, Beau Colina, winner of his last three starts for Tony Martin, the Tom George-trained Lord Of Illusion, who has not raced since New Year´s Day, and the Powers Gold Cup second Forget The Past. Eoin Ryan, Betfair´s Irish Communications Manager, commented: 'The quality of the entries for this race is superb and is a testament to the excellent work done by the Punchestown executive and staff, and also to our continued support of the Festival itself. To have two Grand National winners entered along with other top class horses will surely provide a fantastic end to a wonderful National Hunt season´
