Beef Or Salmon the percentage call in Durkan
Cashmans were yesterday offering Beef Or Salmon and Kicking King at 11-8, while Boylesports had marginal preference for Beef Or Salmon (11-8), with 6-4 on offer about his rival.
Preference goes to Beef Or Salmon, despite obvious worries regarding his fitness and the fact there are those who will make a case that two and a half miles is on the short side for him.
It seems a reasonable assumption, however, that Hourigan wouldn’t risk a possible future Gold Cup winner if he wasn’t satisfied he was sufficiently forward to do himself justice.
Certainly, the eight-year-old appeared in rude health when working on the flat, as darkness began to close, at Thurles on Thursday evening.
Beef Or Salmon should cope with the trip with the minimum of fuss. He won this race a year ago, when way below par, while he had enough speed to easily dismiss Rathgar Beau over two miles at Cork.
Despite being taken wide throughout, he was far too good for Kicking King in the James Nichsolon Wine Merchant Chase at Down Royal on his reappearance.
On the bare form, Kicking King has three and a half lengths to find and, arguably, over his ideal distance, if he is ever to beat the selection this season then it will be now!
But Beef Or Salmon is a real racehorse and only if he underperforms by a fair amount can I see him beaten.
The INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Novice Hurdle is best left to Justified. Dusty Sheehy’s charge is dropped in class, having finished fourth behind Wild Passion in a Grade One at Fairyhouse last Sunday. The one worry you would harbour is that this may come too quickly.
The first section of the Benson Burger Express Maiden Hurdle is best left to Noel Meade’s Geili Sli. A top class bumper horse, he was done for his wind in the summer and, reportedly, has schooled well.
Martinstown gets the nod in the second division. He started favourite for the Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but ran no sort of race.
That was hardly his true running, he was very impressive when scoring twice at home prior to that, and this looks a weak event.
At Gowran Park today, Fota Island, who has his own way of doing things over fences, gets the nap in the Irish Racing Yearbook Novice Chase.
The imposing Mouse Morris trained gelding went really well for Conor O’Dwyer, he’s again in the plate, when beating Zum See by eight lengths at Navan last month.
Lotomore Lad, who showed a glimpse of form for the first time over fences when seventh behind Tell Me See at Naas, is the choice in the Gowran Park Gold Shop Handicap Chase.
