RACING: Michael Hourigan has confirmed that the star novice Beef Or Salmon is on course to try and retain his unbeaten record over fences in Sunday's Hennessy Gold Cup.
As expected Leopardstown's feature will be an all-Irish affair after Hussard Collonges, Behrajan and First Gold were taken out yesterday. That leaves just 10 entries, including the former triple Hennessy winner Florida Pearl as well as the Ericsson runner-up Colonel Braxton.
Bookmaker reaction, however, was to make Beef Or Salmon as short as 11 to 8 favourite to win on Sunday where he will again be ridden by Timmy Murphy.
Co Limerick-based Hourigan has also left the horse in the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase on the same day but the Hennessy is the target.
"I just didn't take him out of the other race. It's 1,000 to 1 him running in it. He is fine. We have had a clear run with him and missed nothing," said Hourigan who won the Hennessy with Dorans Pride in 1998.
Florida Pearl also looks on track to take part in the race for the fifth year running. A fourth place last year followed up on three victories and Willie Mullins appears to be leaning towards the Leopardstown option again.
"He worked well this morning and the plan is to run. It will depend on what sort of form he is in during the week but if I feel he is grand then he will go back," Mullins said yesterday.
Ted Walsh has left in both Commanche Court and Rince Ri but the latter is the more likely starter while bookmakers were uniform in making Colonel Braxton a 7 to 2 second favourite.
The ground at Leopardstown yesterday was "soft" and the racing manager Tom Burke said: "It probably won't change much from that by Sunday."
The Francois Doumen-trained First Gold now has the Country Gentlemans Association Chase at Wincanton in 11 days time as an alternative option.
"He has been held up by the bad weather and is not ready for Leopardstown or Newbury this weekend. It is possible he could go to Wincanton instead," said Doumen.
In Beef Or Salmon's absence Le Coudray will be the hotpot in the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase which attracted 15 entries yesterday. Paddy Power have made the Dennys and Drinmore winner an evens favourite to follow up.
Minella Leisure will represent the Hourigan team instead but Alexander Milenium is described as only "50-50" for the race. Ballyamber is the more certain Mullins starter.
The James Bowe-trained mare Solerina dominates the 13 horses in the Deloitte & Touche Hurdle along with the Dessie Hughes-trained Hardy Eustace.
Solerina is a 2 to 1 ante-post favourite with Powers who make Hardy Eustace a 9 to 4 shot with Nil Desperandum on 6 to 1.
HENNESSY GOLD CUP BETTING: (Paddy Power): 11-8 Beef Or Salmon, 7-2 Colonel Braxton, 4 Florida Pearl, 9-2 Harbour Pilot, 6 Rince Ri, 12 Foxchapel King, 25 Macs Gildoran, 28 Be My Belle 66 Good Shuil. (Cashmans): 7-4 Beef Or Salmon 7-2 Colonel Braxton 9-2 Florida Pearl 5 Rince Ri 6 Harbour Pilot 20 Macs Gildoran 33 Be My Belle 66 Good Shuil.
