Beef Or Salmon a hot order
They kept Michael Hourigan’s charge at 10-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, behind Best Mate (6-4). Mind you, an hour or so later, they were forced to shorten that to 8-1, following some support.
Ladbrokes, also shortened him to 8-1 from 10’s, while Grahams, who may have been looking at a different race to the rest of us, reacted by thumping the seven-year-old into 11-2 from 8’s.
Ultimately, Beef Or Salmon proved far too good for his rivals, over, arguably, an inadequate two and a half miles.
But, realistically, he has a long road to travel before you can put him forward as a possible Gold Cup winner.
On the credit side, he jumped really well and stayed strongly from the final fence. However, the bare form, three and a half lengths in front of Tiutchev, who is surely in decline rising 11, leaves him with plenty to find.
Tony McCoy allowed Tiutchev lead at the seventh and the combination were soon making the best of their way home.
The winner, who ran much more prominently than normal and raced wide, was momentarily caught a trifle flat-footed heading to the fourth last and got a quick slap from Timmy Murphy.
He responded well and was soon in hot pursuit of Tiutchev, hitting the front approaching the home turn.
Tiutchev, to his credit, refused to go down without a fight, but was already beaten when blundering at the last.
“We’re back on track,” exclaimed a clearly delighted Michael Hourigan. “We went a furlong (slight exaggeration) further than the rest, that’s the way we planned it.
“I walked the track and the ground is atrocious on the inside. Timmy didn’t want to run the horse.
“I was very pleased with him, he’s shown today he can jump up there with them. He’s a good jumper and it was just a lack of experience that caught him at Cheltenham in the Gold Cup (fell at third).”
Hourigan indicated there was a possibility his stable star could make a quick reappearance at Cork next Sunday. “We’ll see how he is before making a decision.”
Cork or no Cork, Beef Or Salmon is going to have a busy time in the coming months.
Said Hourigan: “He will run in the Ericsson at Leopardstown at Christmas and then go to Cheltenham for the Pillar ’Chase in January. After that it will be the Hennessy at Leopardstown.”
The handler’s reasoning for heading to Cheltenham, prior to the Festival, was simple. “Everyone said I should have done it last year, this time I’ll give them nothing to talk about,” he quipped.
Timmy Murphy commented: “He was ring-rusty when beaten at Clonmel and has done a bit of schooling since. We lost ground by going wide, but it was better out there and worth it.”
Disappointment of the contest was Native Upmanship, who never threatened to get in a blow and trailed home a well beaten fifth. “I’m happy, he was rusty and will improve a lot for the run,” said trainer, Arthur Moore.
Meanwhile, Kahuna, whose jumping left plenty to be desired on his first two outings over flights, easily won the INH Stallion Farms Novice Hurdle.
He ballooned the first here as well, but soon settled down and his technique was good thereafter.
Partnered by in-form Shay Barry, Kahuna made all the running and was far too good for market leader, Kildare, from the second last.
“He might go for the Dorans Pride race at Limerick or else Leopardstown,” said trainer, Eamon Sheehy.”
Ted Walsh’s True Blue Victory may have had the steadier of 12-0 in the Ryan’s Event Cleaner’s Handicap ’Chase, but he toyed with the opposition.
Jumping beautifully for Ruby Walsh, it was always a question of when the questions were popped. Walsh junior said go coming away from the second last and True Blue Victory effortlessly drew clear to score by six lengths.
“We’ll see what the handicapper does, but the likelihood is he will run in a few novice races now,” commented Ted Walsh.
Ruby Walsh completed a double when Willie Mullins’ Sadlers Wings, having a first pop over jumps, landed the Enviroteam Maiden Hurdle without having to break sweat.
Market leader, Dizzy’s Dream, edged on going to two out, but Sadlers Wings followed him through, absolutely cantering.
Walsh let out an inch of rein before the final flight and Sadler’s Wings quickened to score by seven lengths.
“I’m delighted with that and one would think the SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle (16-1 with Cashmans) has to be the plan”, reported Mullins.
“He could go to Naas after Christmas and that was a good effort by both horse and rider.”
Joseph Vernet, absent since Listowel, stripped fit and well to take the www.punchestown.com Handicap Hurdle with a degree of ease.
Pushed ahead after the penultimate obstacle by Gary Hutchinson, the Paul Nolan trained Joseph Vernet survived an error at the last to easily beat the always prominent Red Or White.
Heavily backed favourite, G V A Ireland, again disappointed. He travelled sweetly, until cutting out dramatically from the third from home.
Nolan landed a double when Kymandjen, the medium of some inspired wagers in the ring, 7-1 to 7-2, streaked away with the Weatherbys’ Ireland Handicap ’Chase.
“At the moment he’s a long way out of the handicap in the Paddy Power (Leopardstown), but if getting in that’s where he will go next,” said Nolan
Deanery Nellie, capably handled by Nina Carberry, slipped to the front with less than two furlongs to go to win the Bumper in a canter.
