Irish Racing Weekend reportsMichael Hourigan outlined Beef Or Salmon's prep races for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup after his comfortable victory at Cork yesterday.
The seven-year-old will go to Leopardstown for the Ericsson Chase over Christmas then the Pillar Chase at Cheltenham next month before returning to the Prestbury Park course for the big one in March.
He remains an 8 to 1 chance with Ladbrokes and Coral and is 7 to 1 with William Hill for the Gold Cup in which he fell at the third fence last season. He did his Gold Cup prospects no harm when winning the O'Connell Warehousing Hilly Way Chase for the second year running.
The 2 to 5 shot, running over an inadequate trip of two miles, had too much class for his three rivals as he landed a cosy victory over Rathgar Beau.
Michael Hourigan's seven-year-old, who won the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown a week earlier, jumped sluggishly for Timmy Murphy in the early stages. Despite colliding with Rathgar Beau two out, he began to show his class on the run to the final fence where he took over the lead before running on strongly on the flat to win by three and a half lengths. Knife Edge was third a further four and a half lengths away.
"I was pleased with this than at Punchestown last Sunday as this was only two miles. The plan remains the Ericsson and the Pillar Chase," said Hourigan.
Murphy added: "They were going too quick for him two out when he made that mistake but he quickened right away from the last."
Solerina won her ninth hurdle race from 11 starts when making all the running to easily take the Giltspur Scientific Tara Hurdle at Navan.
As a result of this facile success, the six-year-old mare was cut to 5 to 1 from 6 to 1 with William Hill for the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham and is only 4 to 1 with Ladbrokes.
Her young rider Gary Hutchinson had Solerina smartly away in this Grade Three event over two and a half miles but was content just to hold a lead of about a length from Rosaker. The 1 to 3 shot, trained by James Bowe, extended that lead as she liked in the straight, scoring by seven lengths with Rosaker second, six lengths clear of the winner's stable companion Florida Coast.
A delighted owner John Bowe, the trainer's son, said: "Gary said she was better today than at Fairyhouse. She is so lazy at home but she comes alive on the track.
"She goes to Leopardstown at Christmas and our first preference is for the Festival Hurdle over two miles rather than the Woodies Hurdle over three. That will tell us where to go for the rest of the season." John's brother Michael, whose colours were carried by the third Florida Coast, added of the winner: "She's pure class. She does it so easy that the 10lb penalty today was not going to stop her."
Hutchinson was completing a double having earlier won the opening Sales Co Handicap Chase on Whatatouch. He replaced Robert Power, who broke a collarbone at Fairyhouse on Saturday, on the Noel Meade six-year-old.
In-form Barry Geraghty partnered top weight Newmill (5 to 2) to success in the Grade Two Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle, won 12 months ago by Solerina. Newmill had made all when winning his previous start at Fairyhouse but was held up in last place this time by Geraghty and came through to win well by eight lengths from Kildare. He also goes to Leopardstown's Christmas meeting for the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle.
