Michael Hourigan is in no hurry to find a replacement for the banned Timmy Murphy for Beef Or Salmon's clash with Best Mate in the Lexus Chase later this month.
The Limerick trainer reports that the eight-year-old is making progress after his recent disappointment at Punchestown.
But he may well need a new partner for his stable star in the Leopardstown Grade One on December 28 as usual rider Murphy could be claimed to ride for owner David Johnson even if his seven-day ban is overturned on appeal.
"Beef Or Salmon is very well, has had no problems with his preparation and is in line for the Lexus," said Hourigan.
"As for a jockey, we will wait and see what happens and who is available."
Murphy has ridden the horse in his last 13 chases stretching back two years, before which he was partnered to victory by Paul Carberry in a Grade Two event at Clonmel on his first outing over fences.
The only other jockey to have won on him since then is Michael Kinane, who partnered Beef Or Salmon when he landed a Flat race at the Curragh in April 2003.
Beef Or Salmon took the valuable Leopardstown prize in 2002 when it was known as the Ericcson Chase, but found Henrietta Knight's triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate too good in last year's race.
The son of Cajetano will also be trying to bounce back from a lifeless performance when a distant third to Kicking King last time, although Hourigan reported that he had missed a fortnight's work in the build-up to that race.
PA