Salmon on course for Gold Cup after scoping clean

BEEF OR SALMON, Ireland’s leading totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup contender, is bang on course for the blue riband after scoping clean yesterday morning.

Michael Hourigan's charge disappointed when a remote second to Rule Supreme in the Irish Hennessy last month, after which he was found to be suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection.

However, the nine-year-old has been pleasing his trainer in recent days and after giving him a spin at Limerick yesterday, Hourigan said: "He worked well and scoped clean afterwards which was a great relief.