Beef or Salmon tipped to taste Hennessy win
Beef Or Salmon is odds-on to boost his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup prospects with victory at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Ireland’s top chaser is 1-2 with Ladbrokes and totesport to lift the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup for the second time in three years.
The nine-year-old, who is a 6-1 chance for the Cheltenham blue riband, completed his preparation with a school over hurdles today.
“He’s fine and jumped four hurdles this morning. He’s in good form for Sunday,” said his trainer Michael Hourigan.
Beef Or Salmon was an impressive winner of the Lexus Chase over this course and distance in December when slamming triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate by seven lengths.
Rule Supreme, who was disputing second place with Best Mate when falling at the final fence in that race, is also in the line-up.
His trainer Willie Mullins is under no illusion that Beef Or Salmon will be a tough nut to crack. “He’s done a couple of bits of work this week and we’re hoping for the best,” he said.
“He came out of the Lexus well. I think he would have been placed if he had stood up. A re-run of that performance should see him pick up some good prize money.
“Beef Or Salmon will be hard to beat, but you never know. We’ll be out there to win anyway.”
Murphy’s Cardinal is the only British raider among a field of seven after all the horses left in at the five-day stage stood their ground today.
Noel Chance had hoped to run Murphy’s Cardinal in the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham last Saturday but thought it best to wait another week after the nine-year-old met with a setback.
“The Pillar Chase was the original plan but he rapped a joint and missed three or four days’ work. You can’t go in these championship races half-cock,” said the Upper Lambourn trainer.
“He’s excellent and in fine shape. He left for Ireland this morning and it’s great to be eating at the top table.”
The Shernazar gelding suffered his first defeat in seven starts when a close fourth to Colonel Frank at Sandown in December.
Edward O’Grady’s Pizarro, who was left to take third spot in the Lexus, plus last Saturday’s Pillar Chase fourth Cloudy Bays, Hersov and Jack High complete the line-up.
The going at Leopardstown is currently yielding to soft.
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup betting:
Ladbrokes: 1-2 Beef Or Salmon, 11-2 Pizarro, Rule Supreme, 10-1 Murphy’s Cardinal, 16-1 Cloudy Bays, 66-1 Jack High, 150-1 Hersov.
Totesport: 1-2 Beef Or Salmon, 5-1 Pizarro, Rule Supreme, 7-1 Murphy’s Cardinal, 25-1 Cloudy Bays, 66-1 Jack High, 100-1 Hersov.
