Good ground key to Beef Or Salmon’s Gold Cup hopes

TIMMY MURPHY hopes for good ground at Cheltenham to help the chances of his mount Beef Or Salmon in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Murphy will partner the Michael Hourigan-trained novice in the three mile two-and-a-half furlong feature event but believes the gelding will need to improve to take the blue riband contest.

The seven-year-old has made an immediate impact on the jumping scene this campaign, taking the Grade Two Morris Oil Chase on his debut over fences.