Beef Or Salmon in great order for Hennessy Gold Cup bid
The 10-year-old won the three-mile contest in 2003 and will be given another chance to strengthen his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup claims on February 12.
“He’s in good form and, touch-wood, we’ve had no problems as all his muscular problems are now behind him,” said Hourigan.
Beef Or Salmon is the 5-1 favourite with Ladbrokes for the Gold Cup and Hourigan insists his charge is fitter than he has ever been ahead of his eagerly-awaited return to Prestbury Park in March.
“You are hoping every year could be your year but I’ve not had much luck with him in the past,” said the Co Limerick handler.
“With the fall he got the first year in the Gold Cup (in 2003), he certainly damaged a lot of muscles and he wasn’t jumping the following year.
“Last year (when he was pulled up in the Gold Cup) he had a touch of a virus but this year I’m getting a clear run on the way to Cheltenham with him.”
Meanwhile, Philip Hobbs has ruled Monkerhostin out of the Letheby & Christopher Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday.
If the King George VI Chase second runs again before the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in March it will be in the AON Chase at Newbury on February 11.
Monkerhostin is disputing favouritism with Beef Or Salmon for the Gold Cup after being beaten only a neck by last year’s winner Kicking King at Sandown on St Stephen’s Day on his first attempt at three miles over fences.
Hobbs is still likely to be represented in the Cotswold Chase by the 2003 Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner One Knight.
