Beef issues serious Gold Cup taster

BEEF OR SALMON pulled rank on Colonel Braxton when sweeping to a superb four lengths success at the end of thrilling Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown yesterday.

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.