Beef Or Salmon is reported to be in fine shape following his seasonal reappearance at Limerick yesterday. Having powered to victory at the Punchestown Festival in April, the eight-year-old could only manage to finish fifth to Colca Canyon in the Anglo Irish Bank Munster National Handicap Chase.
"The horse has come out of the race fine and he's in the paddock," trainer Michael Hourigan told At The Racestoday.
Hourigan confirmed that the gelding's next race is likely to be the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal on November 6th, providing the ground was suitable.
However, he could wait for the Clonmel Oil Chase at Clonmel, a race in which he finished third to Edredon Bleu last season, should conditions not suit in Northern Ireland.
"The ground was all right for us at Limerick yesterday (yielding) so if it's like that at Down Royal, he'll run," added Hourigan.
Beef Or Salmon was pushed out to 14-1 in places for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup following yesterday's lacklustre effort.
But Hourigan was pleased with the horse's performance as he was giving away lumps of weight to fitter horses - the first three home all having had the benefit of a previous run this term.
"He ran a smashing race," said the Limerick-based handler. "Some of the horses there were fit from summer racing and they are not bad horses. Colca Canyon is a very good horse. He's highly-rated and so is Barrow Drive."