Stafford eyes bigger pots with Well Joey

Well Joey the 13/8 favourite, took the Randox Health Tiger Roll Handicap Steeplechase by a comfortable nine lengths.

Adam Short's mount improved to dispute three out and got his head in front at the next.

He finished off strongly to come home by nine lengths. Canadian Steel finished second at 9/1 with Glacial Shadow half a length away in third at 6/1.

Trainer Paul Stafford said: "I'm very glad to have him. On his three runs he was second and won twice, I can't ask for anymore than that.

"He (Adam Short) said he wasn't in love with the track. He is a good jumper, he jumped very well in Hexham but this is a different type of track - the fences were just coming at him and he was just getting into the bottom of them a bit.

"I think he is a horse that wants a bigger, galloping track where he can launch down at his fences.

"He's very consistent. It was a case of keeping him in his grade for the time being. Obviously he has progressed again since the previous day in Hexham.

"Races in the north of England aren't that bad. A bad horse won't win anywhere. You can't disregard the north of England form. It is working out and there were winners behind him.

"We were quietly confident when we came (here) but the three miles was a little bit of a doubt - two and a half is probably his best trip. In this grade Adam said he did get three miles.

"He is in Tramore on Tuesday and it's an option. The English handicapper had a good whack at him the last day for winning, the Irish handicapper in fairness was fair enough on him.

"There's every chance we will go to Tramore but if the ground dries up too much we won't. I know they are giving dry weather for next week so we will see how he is.

"He could go later in the year (to the north of England). If he runs in Tramore that will be him finished. If he doesn't go to Tramore he's finished anyway for a couple of months. If he's an improving horse he is worth putting away for a couple of months and maybe he could win a big prize."