Beef Or Salmon primed to strike
Michael Hourigan’s eight-year-old clearly blew up on that occasion, after travelling really well until finding it tough going from the third last.
He eventually trailed in almost 16 lengths adrift of the winner, Colca Canyon, but will surely reverse those placings on 28lbs better terms.
“He is in good form,” his trainer said yesterday. “I’m looking forward to seeing him back out tomorrow. He is very well.”
“His last race will have brought him on and I think the ground (soft) will be fine for him,” Hourigan added.
Beef Or Salmon rounded off last season with arguably the best display of his life when beating Harbour Pilot by an easy four lengths in the Heineken Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival.
Harbour Pilot, who has been third in two Cheltenham Gold Cups, reopposes now. But he has never looked happy having to go right-handed and also lacks an outing this season.
The young pretender, Kicking King, should emerge as the principal danger, having made a fine return at Gowran Park recently.
But he surely has it all to do against Beef Or Salmon, considering he is two years his junior and is currently rated 18lbs behind him.
Central House, following a creditable second to Rosaker on the level at Galway recently, will be a popular choice in the Killultagh Properties Ltd ‘Chase, but preference is for Mossy Green.
He was bang in contention when falling two out in the SunAlliance Novices ’Chase at Cheltenham in March and gets a useful 7lbs from Central House.
Augherskea, a smart and consistent bumper horse last season, is fancied to make a successful debut over jumps in the A Bartlett and Sons (Airdree) Ltd Maiden Hurdle.
At Navan tomorrow, Moscow Flyer is set to warm up for a tussle with Azertyuiop, in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, when contesting the Ballymore Properties Fortria ’Chase.
Moscow Flyer’s history over fences is simple to sum up, he either wins or loses his jockey, and there is no reason to think it will be any different now!
Solerina, fresh from a cracking effort in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh and running over her ideal distance, is hard to oppose in the Philips Electronics Lismullen Hurdle.
Wild Passion, beaten a head by Royal Paradise at Roscommon, is napped to reverse placings, on 4lbs more favourable terms, in the Bank Of Ireland For Auction Novice Hurdle.
At Cork tomorrow, Mac Three rates the safest wager of the day in the Pierse Contracting Novice Hurdle.
Noel Meade’s gelding is taking a significant drop in class, following his third to Royal Paradise and Petertheknot at Naas last Saturday.
Gayle Abated, who has only ever run in two bumpers, including one at Cheltenham, is launched straight over fences in the Pierse Development Beginners ’Chase and gets the nod.
Master Albert, who ran the race of his young life at Cheltenham to take third to Total Enjoyment, is obviously the one to beat in the Pierse Shearwater INH Stallion Owners’ Maiden Hurdle.
