Punters can feast on Beef Or Salmon
The seven-year-old is the baby of the race and this is far and away his stiffest test to date.
But he has answered every question put to him by charismatic trainer, Michael Hourigan, and looks certain to, at worst, run a big race.
Hourigan has repeatedly asked Beef Or Salmon to face tasks which should have been beyond him and he has risen to the occasion every time.
The selection’s latest success was easily his best performance.
That came at Leopardstown last month in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
Beef Or Salmon found a tremendous turn of foot from the last to sweep four lengths clear of Colonel Braxton. Of course a lot more is required, but the sky is the limit for this young horse and his laid-back attitude and economical jumping are likely to be big pluses when the war starts to rage.
The champion, Best Mate, has to be rated the biggest worry. He put up a delightfully smooth display to win last year, travelling really well through the contest and finding plenty to repel Commanche Court. His victory in the King George at Kempton at Christmas told us he is at least as good now as he was twelve months ago.
Bold front runner, Behrajan, and the tough Hussard Collonges are my other two for the short-list, but Beef Or Salmon to give trainer-Hourigan his greatest day is the prediction. Some rain fell on the track yesterday and that is good news for Limestone Lad’s Bonusprint Stayers’ Hurdle challenge.
He may be an 11-year-old, but there is absolutely no doubt the Bowe family’s hero is now better than at any stage in a wonderful career. Limestone Lad has produced a series of power-packed performances during the campaign and is a confident choice to beat last year’s winner Baracouda.
The Triumph Hurdle has often been kind to us in the past and, hopefully, Michael Halford’s Golden Cross will continue the trend. He is a juvenile very much going forward and there was was a lot to like about his latest display when he ran away with a decent contest at Fairyhouse.
Mighty mare La Landiere gets the nod in the Cathcart, while there is good word for Vol Solitaire, who will be ridden by Ruby Walsh for Paul Nicholls, in the Grand Annual.
Selections
2.00 Golden Cross (nap)
2.35 Limestone Lad (n.b)
3.15 Beef Or Salmon
4.00 Earthmover
4.35 Vol Solitaire
5.10 La Landiere
5.45 Direct Bearing
