Michael Hourigan yesterday issued a "no panic" bulletin on Beef Or Salmon, despite the likelihood of the Cheltenham Gold Cup hope not having a serious work-out until next week.
Beef Or Salmon was ridden out yesterday morning for the first time since returning with a respiratory tract infection after finishing runner-up to Rule Supreme in the Hennessy Gold Cup. The horse was immediately put on a course of antibiotics, but their affect won't be fully known until Beef Or Salmon is scoped in a few days.
It's something that the Hourigan team could have done without with only four weeks to the start of the Cheltenham festival, but the Co Limerick trainer is confident there will be no impact on Beef Or Salmon's readiness for the Gold Cup.
"He ran only the other day so there is no panic with him. He would have had as much time off anyway, it's just this time he has also been getting some treatment," Hourigan said.
"He rode out this morning and he seems fine. He's had a full week off, but we won't know for sure how he is for a few days when we scope him," he added.
Beef Or Salmon had been the main threat to Best Mate in the ante-post betting for the Gold Cup, but that Hennessy defeat at Leopardstown has seen him lengthen in the market to a general 8 to 1.
An Irish-trained outsider in the Gold Cup betting is Pizarro, and the Edward O'Grady-trained horse is one of nine left in Saturday's Grade Three Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse after yesterday's forfeit stage.
Also in the acceptors is the Noel Chance-trained Murphy's Cardinal and the Grand National hope Hedgehunter, who has an alternative option in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock on the same day.
The other Grade Three feature at Fairyhouse will be the Tatts Winning Fair Hurdle, where Dermot Weld is likely to give Loyal Focus a second start over flights.
Loyal Focus, a 25 to 1 shot with Ladbrokes for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, won his debut on the track under a very cool Paul Carberry ride and could face up to nine opponents at the weekend.
"I think the weather forecast is alright so Loyal Focus is pretty certain to run. The horse is well and we will see how much he has come on for his first start," Weld said yesterday.
Another smart Weld novice is the mare Queen Astrid, who will also be out this weekend in the Johnstown Hurdle at Naas on Sunday.
"The plan is to see how she gets on there before we decide about anything else," said the trainer of one of the leading Irish horses in the SunAlliance Hurdle market.
However, plans are less clear for Akshar, who remains prominent in the Supreme Hurdle betting despite running only fourth behind Justified at Punchestown last time out.
"He is very well, but we saw at Punchestown that he just cannot operate in heavy ground," Weld added. "Ideally, he wants good to firm, so we will have to see how the spring comes along because I don't want to run him on heavy again. Cheltenham is still a possible, but ground conditions will tell us a lot."
Solerina has emerged unscathed from her uncharacteristic fall at Navan on Sunday, but is unlikely to race again this season for trainer James Bowe.
The trainer's son Michael said yesterday: "She is fine, out in a field and A1. She will have a good long break now and then we will decide about Punchestown.
"However, it may be her last race of the season as she started a lot earlier than some other horses. It would have been nice on Sunday to find out if she stays three miles, but she just got a bit tight for space on the inner and crumpled on landing."
Noel Meade's string are coming back to form and the high-class bumper horse Geill Sli gets a second chance to win over jumps in the second maiden hurdle at Punchestown today.
This one was almost 63 lengths behind the winner here in early December, but that doesn't equate at all with Geill Sli's bumper form and he is surely worth another chance.
Pay It Forward's effort behind stable companion Carigeen Victor at Gowran got a Grade One boost nine days ago and Barry Geraghty's mount can beat off Jakers and GVA Ireland in the Beginners' Chase.
