Michael Hourigan yesterday tried to play down suggestions that Beef Or Salmon faces a relatively simple task in Sunday's Hennessy Gold Cup but that didn't stop bookmakers installing the horse as low as 2 to 7 favourite.
The 2003 winner was one of just nine horses left in the Leopardstown feature at the forfeit stage and Beef Or Salmon looks to have a straight-forward assignment on the best of his form.
The current ante-post 5 to 1 favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup is rated a full 10lb clear of the Aintree Grand National hero Hedgehunter who was a well beaten fourth behind Beef Or Salmon in the Lexus Chase over Christmas.
With Kicking King sidelined until next season through injury and War Of Attrition waiting in the wings until Cheltenham itself, the Hennessy is feeling the effects in terms of strength in depth to Sunday's race.
The third highest-rated horse left in is the novice Southern Vic, a full 23lb behind Beef Or Salmon, but he appears more likely to take his chance in the PJ Moriarty Chase on the same card.
Nevertheless, Hourigan insisted yesterday: "He still has to go and do it. He still has to win it. It's a case of hoping everything goes according to plan because a lot can still go wrong. We have had a smooth run with him since Christmas and he is good old form. Everything is on track and he'll do a small bit of work on Friday."
Any hopes that very testing conditions might help Hedgehunter bridge the gap from Christmas don't look like be fulfilled as the ground at Leopardstown yesterday was officially "yielding".
"It looks like being largely dry for the rest of the week even if things do get a lot colder," said the track's racing manager Tom Burke. "It shouldn't move too far from yielding one way or the other."
With Southern Vic likely to take the novice route, Jack High appears the most likely of Ted Walsh's triple entry to take part in the Hennessy while the 13-year-old veteran Native Upmanship is also a likely starter.
The Grade One Moriarty has attracted a 12-strong entry and as well as Southern Vic the starting line-up looks set to include Sher Beau, Kerryhead Windfarm and the Willie Mullins-trained Our Ben. The latter won at Fairyhouse on his second chase start and Mullins said: "He did it very well that day and the plan is to go to Cheltenham for the SunAlliance."
Mullins also intends starting the Triumph Hurdle market leader Mister Hight in the Grade Two Cashmans Juvenile Hurdle on Sunday for which 11 horses remain entered.
Mr Nosie has been installed favourite for the weekend's other Grade One prize, the Deloitte Hurdle, and is set to clash with Beef Or Salmon's stable companion Mossbank.
The Pierse Hurdle winner Studmaster is now set to bypass Saturday's Totesport Trophy at Newbury and wait instead for a handicap at Leopardstown. Jessica Harrington's horse is out of the weights proper in the Newbury race.
Noel Meade revealed yesterday that the Ryanair Chase rather than the Champion Chase is emerging as Watson Lake's likely Cheltenham festival target.
Watson Lake faded in the closing stages at Punchestown last weekend but Meade said: "He was short of work - simple as that. But I'm very happy the way he has come out of it. He just got tired and Paul (Carberry) sensibly did not knock him around. He was very tired coming to the last. Turning in he was galloping all over Central House. The thing is he needs it soft so that could decide what race he runs in at Cheltenham. Unless it comes up unusually soft he will probably run in the Ryanair Chase."
GOLD CUP BETTING: (Paddy Power) 2-7 Beef Or Salmon, 3 Hedgehunter, 16 Strong Project, 33 Prince Of Tara, 50 bar. (Cashmans) : 4-9 Beef Or Salmon, 5-2 Hedgehunter, 20 Prince Of Tara, Strong Project, 25 Nil Desperandum, Rince Ri, 33 Jack High and Native Upmanship.
