Carberry partners Beef for Lexus
Hourigan yesterday ended days of speculation about the ride when Carberry became available, after Noel Meade confirmed that Harbour Pilot would miss the race. Hourigan said: “Paul will ride my horse. He jumped six hurdles here at home this morning and is in great form.’’
Beef Or Salmon will travel to Leopardstown on the back of a disappointing effort in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown, finishing a remote third behind Kicking King and Rathgar Beau.
There were excuses for that effort, however, with the rising nine-year-old having had an interrupted preparation, after suffering an overreach when impressively landing the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal previously.
At Punchestown, Beef Or Salmon’s technique often lacked fluency and appeared to hesitate at a couple of fences. Hourigan, though, indicated he had no worries. “That’s of no concern. He can be careful, but when revved up is very good.’’
Beef Or Salmon’s regular pilot, Timmy Murphy, had his seven-day ban, incurred at Plumpton, reduced on appeal to one day yesterday.
He will serve that on Monday, but goes to Chepstow on Tuesday to ride for owner David Johnson, to whom he is retained, in the Welsh National.
Earlier in the week, Ruby Walsh had emerged as very much the favourite to take over from Murphy in the Lexus, having ridden Beef Or Salmon work after racing at Thurles last Sunday.
But he has decided to ride at Chepstow as well and will be aboard Silver Birch in the Welsh National for Paul Nicholls.
Carberry has ridden Beef Or Salmon before, guiding him to success first time up over fences in the Clonmel Oil Chase in 2002.
Beef Or Salmon has since run 13 more times over fences and Murphy has been in the plate for all of them.
Harbour Pilot, who was pulled up in the John Durkan, will be given more time by Noel Meade.
He was thought to be suffering from a heart problem at Punchestown, but vets found nothing wrong, following a series of tests.
“He didn’t show any spark in his work and won’t run’’, reported Meade. “We don’t want to rush him back and he might head for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup (February 6) at Leopardstown next.’’
