THEY came in their thousands to see Cheltenham Gold Cup aspirant Beef Or Salmon at Limerick yesterday, but the eight-year-old could only manage a disappointing fifth behind Colca Canyon in the Munster National.

BEEF Or Salmon can emphasise he is a realistic Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate by landing the John Durkan Memorial ’Chase at Punchestown tomorrow.

EDWARD O’GRADY’S Pizarro made a satisfactory debut over fences with a comfortable defeat of Atlantic Rhapsody in the Irish Stallion Farms’ Beginners Chase at Clonmel yesterday.