IRISH RACING / Weekend previews: At the end of a week in which a bad scope ruled Kicking King out of Cheltenham, Ireland's other main Gold Cup hope Beef Or Salmon sailed through an important racecourse work-out yesterday morning and remains on track for a third attempt at chasing's blue riband. Brian O'Connor reports
Beef Or Salmon worked at his local Limerick track and afterwards scoped clean.
"He worked well and scoped clean which is a great relief," said his trainer Michael Hourigan. "One of my lads rode him and he will do a bit more next week. All we need now is to keep him sound and hope he scopes clean over the next two weeks. I would say he is as well now as he has been all year."
Today's action at Navan features the €52,000 novice chase final and Donie Hassett brings Lotomore Lad back to the track in an attempt to follow up a course success last month. Lotomore Lad only had a neck to spare over Rare Ouzel over two and a half miles and is raised 8lb for that today. However, that was a very noteworthy effort considering he was carried significantly wide coming out of the back straight.
The Listed handicap hurdle is a competitive event with some well known chasing names involved but after runner-up efforts in both the Paddy Power and the Troytown, Jaquouille looks to be at the right end of the handicap to score.
Davenport Milenium has his first start since running second last in the 2004 Champion Hurdle in the Beginners' Chase and if anywhere near his best should be good enough to win.
There is a Cheltenham preview night organised by the Kilmacud Crokes GAA club at the Stillorgan Park Hotel tomorrow night at 8.00pm.
