Beef Or Salmon 3-1 co-favouritefor Heineken
In a contest which promises to be the highlight of the four-day Festival, the firm has installed Beef Or Salmon, Harbour Pilot and Keen Leader as 3-1 co-favourites.
The Grade One attracted just 12 entries and they are: Alexander Banquet, Artic Jack, Beef Or Salmon, First Gold, Harbour Pilot, Hedgehunter, Irish Hussar, Kadoun, Keen Leader, Rince Ri, Rule Supreme, Come In Moscow. There will be a supplementary stage up to 12.00 noon tomorrow, however, at a cost of €18,000.
At the moment it appears virtually certain the ground at Punchestown, the meeting starts on Tuesday, will be on the soft side and that should ensure the participation of both Harbour Pilot and Beef Or Salmon.
Harbour Pilot ran the race of his life in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, finishing third to Best Mate and Sir Rembrandt.
Beef Or Salmon has a place a length and three quarters to find on that form.
First Gold, after making a lot of the running, was fifth in the Gold Cup, while Keen Leader was sixth and Irish Hussar pulled up.
Cashmans bet: 3-1 Beef Or Salmon, Harbour Pilot, Keen Leader, 4-1 First Gold, 6-1 Irish Hussar, 14-1 Rince Ri, 16-1 Artic Jack, 20-1 Hedgehunter, 25-1 Rule Supreme, 33-1 bar.
