War defeated as Salmon shines

Beef Or Salmon defeated War Of Attrition in a thrilling renewal of the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Michael Hourigan's charge, sent off the 11-4 second favourite, won the three-mile Grade One with a neck to spare from the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero.

Justified stayed on for third at odds of 5-1.

Cloudy Bays cut out most of the early running before Justified gained the upper hand four out.

Both 4-7 favourite War Of Attrition and Beef Or Salmon were travelling ominously well near the head of affairs, however.

Although the former appeared to stumble slightly turning for home, Conor O'Dwyer still nudged his partner into the lead with a crisp leap at the penultimate fence.

But Beef Or Salmon, relishing the small field and soft ground, responded to McNamara's every call and moved upsides his nearest rival at the last.

An absorbing duel ensued thereafter with Beef Or Salmon just getting up to land back-to-back runnings of the Down Royal feature.