Salmon back on course for Gold

Beef Or Salmon has recovered from a slight setback and is on course for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Michael Hourigan’s stable star was found to be suffering from a bug, which resulted in a below-par effort when a well-beaten third behind Best Mate in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

Mucus was discovered in the gelding’s lungs when he was scoped on returning to Hourigan’s Patrickswell stables after the Ericsson and blood tests were taken.

“His blood tests were perfect,” he trainer said today. “He’s grand again now and he’s back in work.

“He’s all right again and that is the main thing.”

Hourigan has no immediate plans for Beef Or Salmon but the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup – a race he won last year – at Leopardstown on February 8 could be a possibility.

Hourigan added: “We’ll wait for a fortnight before deciding what we’ll do. The Pillar at Cheltenham (January 24) is out. We’ll play it by ear and see what happens.”

Beef Or Salmon is a 6-1 chance – without Best Mate – with Coral for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Explaining the move to bet without the 4-6 favourite, Coral spokesman Simon Clare said: “We had been desperately trying to breathe life into the ante-post Gold Cup market but Kingscliff’s defeat on Saturday was the final nail in the coffin.

“Betting on the Gold Cup has all but dried up and punters have now cried enough.”

Keen Leader is Coral’s favourite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup without Best Mate at 4-1, with Sir Rembrandt next best at 5-1. Therealbandit who has just two runs over fences to his name is only a 7-1 chance to win or finish second to Best Mate.

Coral’s Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup betting without Best Mate: 4-1 Keen Leader, 5-1 Sir Rembrandt, 6-1 Beef Or Salmon, Jair Du Cochet, 7-1 Kingscliff, Therealbandit, Truckers Tavern, 10-1 First Gold, 14-1 La Landiere, 16-1 Artic Jack, Harbour Pilot, Irish Hussar, 20-1 Chives, Commanche Court, Fondmort, Valley Henry, 33-1 Alexander Banquet, Cyfor Malta, Florida Pearl, Shardam, Sleeping Night, 40-1 bar.

Cheltenham Gold Cup betting:

Coral: 4-6 Best Mate, 8-1 Keen Leader 12-1 Beef Or Salmon, Sir Rembrandt, Truckers Tavern, 16-1 Kingscliff, Jair Du Cochet, Therealbandit, 20-1 First Gold, 33-1 Valley Henry, Irish Hussar, Commanche Court, 40-1 La Landiere, Chives, Harbour Pilot, Artic Jack, Fondmort, Rince Ri, 50-1 Shardam, 66-1 Alexander Banquet, Cyfor Malta, Florida Pearl, Rule Supreme, Sleeping Knight, What’s Up Boys, 100-1 Macs Gildoran, Shooting Light, Toto Toscato, You’re Agoodun, 500-1 Jenniferjo, 1,000-1 Venn Ottery.