Hourigan keen not to over-cook Beef
The eight-year-old was for a long time thought of as the biggest threat to the supremacy of Best Mate at Cheltenham in March.
But that position diminished following his below-par effort behind Henrietta Knight’s star in the Ericsson Chase over Christmas, together with the emergence once more of Jair Du Cochet as a major contender for chasing’s blue riband.
A valid excuse subsequently emerged for his lacklustre run at Leopardstown, but Hourigan is determined not to rush his triple Grade One winner back to the track.
“He’s in good form and it’s possible he will run in the Hennessy. I just have to be very careful after he has had the mucus in his lungs,” he said yesterday.
“He’s only two bits of work away from when he will run, it’s just a case of when I do the work.
“I just want to be careful because I have been down that road before when horses have had mucus in their lungs. I’ve run them back too soon and paid the penalty.
“We’ll wait and see what happens in the next fortnight.”
Beef Or Salmon’s six victories over fences include last year’s Hennessy, where he belied his novice status to come home four lengths clear of Colonel Braxton.
Meanwhile, Florida Pearl heads 12 entries for what looks set to be a cracking renewal of the Servo Computer Services’ Ascot Chase on Saturday.
The Willie Mullins-trained 12-year-old may be in the twilight of what has been a glittering career, but he rolled back the years to score at Fairyhouse on his seasonal reappearance recently, jumping with zest to beat subsequent Pillar Property Chase runner-up Rince Ri comfortably.
He remains one of only three horses to have beaten dual Gold Cup winner Best Mate over fences and has twice finished placed in the blue riband.
The veteran gelding is also entered at Thurles on Thursday.
Possible opponents for Florida Pearl on Saturday include Tiutchev, seeking his third win in the Grade One race, Fondmort, Hand Inn Hand, Impek and Le Roi Miguel.
As well as Florida Pearl, Irish entries hold a strong hand through Native Upmanship, twice runner-up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Le Coudray, second to Best Mate in the Ericsson Chase on his latest start.
Another fascinating entry is the Conrad Allen-trained Royal Atalza.
The seven-year-old is a half-brother to Royal Rosa, who fetched a world record 340,000gns when he went through the sales ring, and is owned by the flamboyant Terry Ramsden, one of the leading owners and biggest punters of the 1980s.
Tomorrow’s Navan meeting is in doubt due to frost. There will be an inspection today at 2pm.
