Boost for Beef Or Salmon team

MICHAEL HOURIGAN yesterday received a welcome boost ahead of Beef Or Salmon’s crack at the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup when saddling his first winner for two months.

Arteea easily landed a novice hurdle at Naas under big-race jockey Paul Carberry, which lifted a huge weight from Hourigan’s shoulders. “This horse has been working with Beef Or Salmon, which gives me a bit of a relief as I haven’t trained a winner since January,” said the County Limerick-based handler.

Twice a Grade One winner this term - when beating Best Mate and Kicking King - Beef Or Salmon has not been seen since finishing runner-up to Rule Supreme in the Irish Hennessy last month.