Beef Or Salmon works nicely after racing at Thurles
Both horses appeared on very good terms with themselves as they went about 12 furlongs with two other Michael Hourigan inmates.
Keith Hadnett partnered Beef Or Salmon, while Dessie Hughes’ amateur pilot, Robbie Hennessy, was on Hardy Eustace.
Beef Or Salmon quickened up best in the closing stages to finish a couple of lengths to the good over Hardy Eustace.
Speaking afterwards, Hourigan said Of Beef Or Salmon: “I’ll know how my horse is in the morning and then make a decision about the John Durkan at Punchestown on Sunday. It was good of Thurles to let us have a run around.”
The eight-year-old has been on the easy-list since suffering an overreach on the way to an impressive success in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant ’Chase at Down Royal last month.
Hardy Eustace had to miss the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse last Sunday, having failed to scope clean on the run-up to the race.
Conor O’Dwyer’s mount, of course, produced a tremendous effort at Cheltenham in March to slam Rooster Booster by five lengths in the Champion Hurdle.
Trainer-Hughes wasn’t at Thurles, instead he attended the inquest on Kieran Kelly, tragically killed at Kilbeggan last year.
Hughes’ wife, Eileen, and Hardy Eustace’s owner, Lar Byrne, however, were on hand to watch the work-out.
They expressed their delight afterwards at the way it had gone and there’s little doubt the horse is back on track.
The likelihood is that Hardy Eustace will now start his campaign in the Giltspur Scientific Tara Hurdle at Navan on Sunday week, and that will mean a mouth-watering clash with Solerina.
