Hourigan still refusing to commit Beef Or Salmon to Hennessy
Michael Hourigan, however, was still refusing to commit his eight-year-old to the Grade One event yesterday.
“He didn’t do much today, just cantered three or four miles with the string on the all-weather’’, reported Hourigan.
“I’m glad bookmakers are betting with a run. He will work on grass on Wednesday and I could make a decision then, or wait for Friday morning.
“I have to be 100% certain and no one is going to bully me into making up my mind until I’m ready. The owners have said that whatever I decide is fine.’’
Cashmans make Beef Or Salmon an odds-on favourite, with a run. They bet: 4-5 Beef Or Salmon, 3-1 Harbour Pilot, 4-1 Cloudy Bays, Le Coudray, 5-1 Rince Ri, 6-1 Florida Pearl, 25-1 Alexander Banquet, 33-1 Be My Belle.
One horse virtually certain to take his chance is Ted Walsh’s Rince Ri, fresh from an excellent effort when runner-up to Jair Du Cochet at Cheltenham last time.
Walsh, speaking from the West Indies and about to make his way to Florida, quipped: “I’m giving myself a bit of a treat.’’
Said Walsh: “I will talk to Frank Moriarty (owner), but all being well I would say he’ll definitely run. The lads at home tell me he’s in good order. He will work on Thursday morning, I’ll be home by then, and it should be all systems go.’’
Willie Mullins is hoping both Florida Pearl and Alexander Banquet will face the starter. Regarding Florida Pearl, Mullins said: “We weren’t happy with the horse last Tuesday, he worked flat. He wasn’t 100% when we scoped him. He had a few easy days and will do two pieces of work this week. If he works well then the plan is the run.’’
Mullins said of Alexander Banquet: “He has disappointed me this season and is in the same boat as Florida Pearl. He too will work this week and the plan is also to run him.’’
The progressive Charles Byrnes trained Cloudy Bays, is set to cross swords with the “big boys’’ for the first time.
Brilliant winner winner of the Troytown at Navan and the Pierse Chase at Leopardstown, Cloudy Bays went up a whopping 33lbs for those successes.
Byrnes, ever the realist, said: “He will run, but I’ve no great expectations. Everything is in order with the horse, but 12-0 and soft ground will kill him!”
The trainer indicated the Cathcart at Cheltenham is on the agenda for his charge. “He will find it very hard to win another handicap off his new mark’’, said Byrnes.
Christy Roche’s Le Coudray, owned by J P McManus and in front of Beef Or Salmon when runner-up to Best Mate in the Ericsson at Leopardstown at Christmas, will also take his chance.
Commented McManus’ racing manager, Frank Berry: “He goes to Leopardstown, Christy is very happy with the horse.’’
McManus’ well-regarded Mark The Man, trained by Noel Meade and a big disappointment at Leopardstown at Christmas, could reappear in Sunday’s Deloitte Novice Hurdle.
He is one of three Meade has left in the contest, the others being Watson Lake and Zum See.
Commented Berry: “We hope he is a lot better than he looked last time and Noel’s horses have found a bit of form. He works either Tuesday or Wednesday and, all being well, will run at the weekend.’’
Cashmans have opened a book on the race and have lumped the Meade horses together. They go: 7-4 Meade stable, 3-1 Mariah Rollins, 4-1 Sadlers Wings, 5-1 Newmill, 6-1 Brave Inca, 7-1 Vic Ville, 8-1 War Of Attrition, 10-1 bar.
Sadlers Wings, impressive when beating subsequent winner, Dizzy’s Dream, at Punchestown on his debut over jumps, could miss the race, however. “I’ve given him an entry, but won’t be rushing to run him’’, reported Willie Mullins.
Edward O’Grady’s Pizarro, 11-8 favourite with Cashmans, heads 13 entries for the Dr P J Moriarty Novice Chase, while the firm marginally prefer Charlie Swan’s Hasanpour (9-4) to Ted Walsh’s Top Strategy (5-2) in the Juvenile Hurdle, which they sponsor.
