RACING: It's been a long wait but Beef Or Salmon finally starts on the road to possible Cheltenham Gold Cup glory at Clonmel this afternoon.
It was in last year's Clonmel Oil Chase that the Michael Hourigan-trained star first revealed his chasing prowess with a scintillating success that set him up for further top-flight victories in the Ericsson and the Hennessy.
The Gold Cup, however, finished prematurely in a tangle of "what if's" when Beef Or Salmon came down at the third fence and there are some more questions surrounding the horse today.
Hourigan has had him ready to go for some time with prospective engagements on the flat and over jumps abandoned because of ground conditions. Now he will find out at what stage of readiness Beef Or Salmon is at.
"I just hope I have him ready enough and I guess we will soon know," Hourigan admitted yesterday. "It has been frustrating waiting around but at least we're there now and can get on with it."
The Co Limerick trainer also indicated next month's John Durkan Memorial is a likely pre-Christmas date before another crack at the Ericsson but before all of that there are other questions to be answered, none more so than will the young star be able to cope with the English raider Edredon Bleu?
The Champion Chaser of 2000 had his only previous start in Ireland later that year when only third at Punchestown but the veteran returns on the back of two wins this season which have brought his career total to 17.
That is only one less than the number of times Beef Or Salmon has actually run.
A defeat of Wahiba Sands at Exeter may read better than it actually is, with Azertyuiop falling at the first that day, and even jockey Jim Culloty concedes: "He is not as good as he once was."
Also in the 11-strong field is the Midlands National winner Intelligent and the smart two-milers Knife Edge and Arctic Copper.
However, this looks like developing into a predictable pattern with Edredon Bleu challenging the others to catch him. Only Beef Or Salmon looks up to doing so and if he does, then the general 10 to 1 available for the Gold Cup could shorten.
Paul Carberry rode Beef Or Salmon to win last year and he could hook up with Hourigan again to win on Smart Design in the handicap chase. This one beat Endastory by four lengths over the course and distance and with Carberry on his back can defy the 9lb hike.
Doonaree defied topweight at Punchestown on Sunday and the 6lb penalty doesn't look enough to stop him holding a good chance in the handicap hurdle.
There are a number of winners in the bumper but Like A Bee's third to McGruders Cross last February read pretty well and the Roche runner is preferred.
Ger Cully saddled his first winner under rules for over two years when sending out No Small Plans to land the 2¾-mile maiden hurdle.
The well-backed evens favourite was given a fine ride by Andrew Leigh, driven along from three out and finding a gap on the far rail inside Dublin Hunter on the run-in to beat that rival by a head.
