Beef Or Salmon aims for winning finale at Punchestown

Beef Or Salmon bids to end his campaign on a high in the Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup tomorrow.

Michael Hourigan’s charge heads a field of six for the Grade One chase over three miles and one furlong.

The eight-year-old has delighted his trainer since finishing strongly to take fourth place behind Best Mate in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“He worked well last week and he’s fine in himself,” said Hourigan today.

Timmy Murphy, who has struck up a fine partnership with the horse, will again be in the saddle.

After tomorrow’s contest, Beef Or Salmon will have a well-deserved summer holiday.

“He’ll go in a field after this for two or three months. We’ll bring him back in at the end of July and we'll make our plans after that,” added Hourigan.

The French-trained First Gold, 10 lengths behind Beef Or Salmon in fifth place at Cheltenham, bids to win the Punchestown feature for the second year.

Francois Doumen’s gelding, owned by JP McManus, has since finished second to Tiutchev in the Martell Cognac Cup Chase at Aintree.

Harbour Pilot will be bidding to confirm Cheltenham form with Beef Or Salmon having finished third, a length and three-quarters ahead of Hourigan’s runner.

The line-up is completed by Rince Ri, Betfred Gold Cup fifth Rule Supreme and rank outsider Come In Moscow.

Heineken Gold Cup, Paddy Power bet: 6-4 Beef Or Salmon, 2-1 Harbour Pilot, 11-4 First Gold, 6-1 Rince Ri, 20-1 Rule Supreme, 150-1 Come In Moscow.