Hennessy an open and shut case for Beef Or Salmon
No matter what way you look at it, the likelihood is this is going to be a very disappointing line-up.
Mouse Morris didn’t even enter War Of Attrition, preferring to go directly to Cheltenham, and Ted Walsh’s understandable decision not to throw Southern Vic in at the deep end means that Beef Or Salmon only has to repeat what he did in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas to win comfortably. He beat War Of Attrition by an unflattering four lengths then and had Hedgehunter a further 13 lengths away in fourth spot.
I suppose Hedgehunter can be expected to improve for his first outing over fences since winning the Grand National at Aintree, but 17 lengths is a hell of a lot of ground to make up.
Beef Or Salmon is practically unbeatable anyway round this track, but as a Cheltenham Gold Cup trial the chances are this will prove meaningless. You never know, of course, in this game, but all logic would indicate that should very much be the case.
The Dr P J Moriarty Chase looks far more interesting and if Our Ben can deal with Southern Vic then he will nearly have to be near favourite for the SunAlliance Novices Chase at Cheltenham.
Over fences, Southern Vic has achieved a lot more than his rival. He’s won three times already, including a Grade One at Leopardstown.
In contrast, Our Ben, who has only run twice over fences, has just a moderate beginners chase success at Fairyhouse to his credit.
Our Ben, however, has enormous scope for improvement and there is no doubting the high regard in which he is held in the Mullins camp.
There will have to be a fair bit of head-scratching before we arrive at any conclusions and some consideration also has to be given to the fact that two miles and five really is too short for both horses.
Noel Meade’s Mr Nosie puts his Cheltenham credentials on the line in the Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown. He improved dramatically from a smooth success in a moderate Cork maiden to slam the useful Blueberry Boy by four lengths in a Grade Two at Leopardstown subsequently.
Michael Hourigan’s Mossbank, the new Beef Or Salmon according to his handler, and, arguably, over-priced at 7-1 by both Paddy Power and Cashmans will be an interesting challenger.
Admittedly, defeats by Laetitia at Cork and behind Travino and Nicanor at Navan were mildly disappointing efforts.
But his canny handler gave him a three weeks break and Mossbank is likely to strip fresh and well for this test!
Keep an eye on Willie Mullins’ bumper horses over the next couple of weeks, as he puts the finishing touches to his plans for the Weatherbys’ Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.
Mullins currently has four possibilities for a race he has won five times in the past, headed by Equus Maximus, who created a big impression when scoring on his debut at Leopardstown.
Others are recent winners in Black Harry (Leopardstown), Irish Invader (Fairyhouse) and Shady Willow (Punchestown).
He emphasised that Shady Willow will definitely get an entry, but could wait for Punchestown on the basis he’s a four-year-old and the prizemoney there is better than at Cheltenham.
Ominously, however, Mullins remarked: “I have one or two more who have yet to race who are under consideration.”
You’d imagine Roger Loughran had his best sleep for a while on Sunday night, after partnering Central House to that emphatic victory at Punchestown in the afternoon.
The reaction of people to his total cock-up on the same horse at Leopardstown at Christmas and then at Punchestown would renew your faith in human nature - well almost.
It only remains now for Central House to go and win the two mile Champion Chase at Cheltenham to complete the fairytale. Couldn’t happen, could it?
