Salmon on target for Down Royal

BEEF OR SALMON continued his preparation for his next outing at Down Royal on Saturday week with a workout at his County Limerick base yesterday morning.

The Michael Hourigan-trained eight-year-old is due to contest the Grade One James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase after a lacklustre seasonal bow earlier this month.

On that occasion he could only finish fifth in the Munster Nati onal at Limerick, when giving weight away to a high-class field that included the victorious Colca Canyon.

“He is in good form and worked this morning as normal,” said Hourigan.

“His target is still the Nicholson at Down Royal and he should have come on for his run at Limerick.”

The gelding finished fourth in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March and is a general 14-1 chance to take top honours at this season’s Festival.