Beef Or Salmon order of the day
Michael Hourigan’s eight-year-old has had something of a stop-start campaign and contested the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March following an interrupted preparation.
Mindful of that, Timmy Murphy utilised exaggerated waiting tactics and Beef Or Salmon was never able to get in a real blow at the principals.
Nevertheless, he ran a cracker, giving the impression that next year Hourigan’s charge may well be regarded as very much a live possibility for ultimate honours.
The Gold Cup was won in thrilling style by Best Mate, who beat Sir Rembrandt by half a length, with Harbour Pilot a length and a quarter away in third and Beef Or Salmon a further one and three quarters of a length further back in fourth.
That was the best performance of Harbour Pilot’s life. He made a mistake at the second, learned his lesson and jumped superbly afterwards.
Noel Meade’s inmate has been plagued by poor technique in the past, but if that is truly behind him then he will take a lot of beating.
First Gold sent a spanking gallop at Cheltenham and that had to tell in the straight, as he faded to finish a well beaten fifth.
He won this in tremendous fashion 12 months ago, but it was mildly disappointing to see him fail to cope with Tiutchev at Aintree last time.
It will be a surprise if Rince Ri, Rule Supreme and, certainly, Come In Moscow do the business.
One would expect Beef Or Salmon to strip at the peak of his powers today and, equally, it seems unlikely he will ridden from well off the pace.
The overall evidence is he is the best horse in the race, it was most encouraging the way he finished at Cheltenham, and Beef Or Salmon to power through in the closing stages is the prediction.
Nicky Henderson’ Back To Ben Alder has a big reputation and may take a lot of beating in the Tattersalls Novice Hurdle.
Preference, however, is for Ruby Walsh’s mount, Arch Stanton, beaten a length by Dawn Invasion at Fairyhouse, after making a costly blunder two out.
