Beef issues serious Gold Cup taster
And now, as far as the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup is concerned, it is very much a case of game on and a classic English-Irish confrontation.
The English won’t hear of defeat for Best Mate but, following this immaculate display by Michael Hourigan’s extraordinary young pretender, we will travel with high expectations of winning National Hunt racing’s premier prize for the first time since 1996 and Imperial Call.
Beef Or Salmon was simply imperious and those of us with doubts had them washed away by the manner in which he roared clear from the back of the final fence.
William Hill left Best Mate as their 6-4 favourite for the Gold Cup, but tightened Beef Or Salmon to 4-1, from 6’s. Ladbrokes behaved exactly the same way, keeping Best Mate at 6-4 and clipping Beef Or Salmon in two points to 4-1. Cashmans eased Best Mate marginally to 7-4, from 13-8, but were clearly very impressed by Beef Or Salmon and they now go 4-1 from 7-1. Paddy Power are biggest about Beef Or Salmon at 5-1.
This was a proper race, won by a horse having only his fourth ever outing over fences.
Trainer-Hourigan has been waxing lyrical about his charge ever since he made his debut over fences at Clonmel in November and this victory, in a Grade One at level weights, justified the confidence in style.
Timmy Murphy gave his partner a typical drive, oozing confidence and no one will begrudge him another big-race success following his well-documented problems of some months back.
Said Murphy: “He travelled as well as I wanted him. He was brilliant at the third last, and just does what you ask him to do.”
Harbour Pilot set a decent gallop and had Florida Pearl and Colonel Braxton as his closest pursuers for most of the journey.
Beef Or Salmon, who looked utterly relaxed through the race, was content to lob along, until required to do more by Murphy.
Colonel Braxton, who ran an absolute blinder, led over the third last but faced up to the final fence attacked by Beef Or Salmon, Harbour Pilot and Rince Ri.
Beef Or Salmon landed in front but, momentarily, it looked as if Colonel Braxton was going to come back at him on the level. But as soon as Murphy got serious the outcome was entirely predictable. Beef Or Salmon quickened, as only a top class horse can at the end of three miles, and sprinted away.
Colonel Braxton boxed on manfully to hold Harbour Pilot for second, with Rince Ri an honourable fourth.
Florida Pearl was out of contention when pulled up between the final two fences and was later found to be suffering from a respiratory tract infection.
Hourigan’s expression was a picture of contentment. No hint of “I told you so”, just a deep satisfaction of a job well done.
"He’s done it again, what more can I say”, he smiled. "He jumped well and Timmy gave him a peach of a ride.
"This has always been the plan and I am not all all worried about the possibility of good ground at Cheltenham.
"I don’t care what way the ground is, I just want to get there in one piece. I wish the race was tomorrow.
"I didn’t find today in any way nerve-wracking. The nerve-wracking part comes between now and March.”
The seven-year-old will head to the foot of the Cotswolds with the hopes of a nation resting on his broad shoulders.
It would be silly to get too carried away with this performance, impressive and all as it was.
The bare form leaves Beef Or Salmon still with a bit to find, particularly with the champion, Best Mate.
But he has enormous scope for improvement and his delightful, laid-back temperament will ensure he will give himself every chance.
And, with the exception of trainer-Hourigan, one suspects, no one knows quite how good he really is.
What we can say with a fair degree of certainty is that, taking into consideration the way he finished yesterday, that the fearsome, legendary Cheltenham hill will hold no fears for him.
Hourigan’s cherished dream of winning a Gold Cup with Dorans Pride was ultimately doomed to failure.
But the dream isn’t dead. Indeed, it could hardly be shining more brightly!
