Salmon well after Clonmel run

Beef Or Salmon was today reported in good form following his return to action at Clonmel on Thursday.

Having his first race over fences since falling in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, Beef Or Salmon finished an unlucky third behind Edredon Bleu in the Clonmel Oil Chase.

Michael Hourigan’s seven-year-old moved up to challenge the front-running Edredon Bleu at the final fence in the two-and-a-half-mile contest but he made a bad mistake, handing the initiative to Henrietta Knight’s tough performer.

Edredon Bleu went on to score by a head from Arctic Copper with Beef Or Salmon a further length away.

“He’s fine this morning and he’s out in the paddock,” Hourigan said.

Reflecting on the Clonmel race the Limerick-based trainer said: “These things happen.

“Last year he had two races before he ran and yesterday I would say he was just a bit rusty. Maybe we took him a bit too easy into it.”

Hourigan said Beef Or Salmon would come on for the race and he added: “They won’t beat him again anyhow.”

Beef Or Salmon, who is a best-priced 12-1 with Bet Direct for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, will be now considered for the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on December 7 before a possible tilt at the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.