Beef Or Salmon can stake Gold Cup claim
You could argue two and a half miles is on the short side for Michael Hourigan’s gelding, but that can hardly hold any water about a horse who had sufficient speed to win at two miles over the undemanding Cork track.
The selection was a revelation last season, going from strength and producing a series of spectacular performances for a novice.
His world, however, came crashing down in March when exiting the Gold Cup at the third fence and he looked very much ring-rusty on his reappearance at Clonmel, only third to Edredon Bleu and Arctic Copper.
Beef Or Salmon reportedly schooled really well earlier in the week and will surely strip a more lean machine on this occasion.
Native Upmanship, ideally suited by the trip and with a terrific record in the race, looks the biggest danger. But he lacks an outing so far this campaign and the three years younger Beef Or Salmon can prove too strong.
True Blue Victory gets the nap to defy top weight in the Ryan’s Event Cleaners Handicap ’Chase.
He may have 12-0 to hump, but appears reasonably well handicapped and caught the eye when third to Satco Express and Catalpa Cargo at Punchestown, with a couple of subsequent winners in arrears.
Dessie Hughes’ Kildare is the choice in the INH Stallion Owners’ Novice Hurdle. He was set for an easy victory, until blundering at the last, when beating First Diploma by half a length at Naas.
Noel Meade’s Dizzy’s Dream, with Tony McCoy replacing the injured Paul Carberry, should take plenty beating in the Enviroteam Maiden Hurdle.
After appearing set for a smooth success on his seasonal debut on this track last month, the selection tired from the final flight when going down by two and a half lengths to Clounties Hill.
Take a chance on Lotomore Lad in the Morganstown Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.
Returning from a break, he performed with a lot of promise when beaten just over six lengths into third spot by Coccinelle (rec. 18lbs) at Clonmel before being brought down at the second in the race won by Brave Inca at Fairyhouse last Sunday.
War Of Attrition, who ran a blinder first time up at Naas, prior to disappointing at Thurles, where little went right for him, may be worth risking in the Christmas Fair Maiden Hurdle.
At Clonmel tomorrow, Christy Roche’s very useful Lost Time, a creditable third to Back In Front on his jumping debut at Leopardstown in January, gets a confident vote in the McCarthy’s Hotel Hurdle.
Rory Sunset, third to Adarma and Boleyknowsbest at Punchestown, can land the Beat 102-103 Maiden Hurdle.
