RACING: Beef Or Salmon has been given a 25 to 1 quote for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup and trainer Michael Hourigan is in little doubt of the horse's quality.
"I would rate him above Dorans Pride. He has more class than the other horse, at this stage of his career. This horse can jump. Dorans Pride had to put a big effort into his jumping," the Patrickswell trainer said yesterday.
Hourigan confirmed that Beef Or Salmon, who won at Cork on Sunday over two miles, will be entered for the Gold Cup as well as the SunAlliance Chase and the Arkle Trophy.
"It's a long way away but he has answered every question put to him so far and you would have to think he might be a contender for it," he said.
Cashmans reacted by giving a 25 to 1 quote for steeplechasing's blue riband despite Beef Or Salmon having had just two starts over fences.
However those two races have resulted in victories in the Grade Two Morris Oil Chase at Clonmel and the Grade Three Hilly Way at Cork.
Beef Or Salmon has the option next of the Grade Two Guinness Greenmount Park Novice Chase at Limerick on St Stephen's Day but Hourigan hasn't completely ruled out the Ericsson at Leopardstown.
"We will see what the Ericsson is like. If it's a soft race, we'll think about going there," he said. Dorans Pride won the Leopardstown prize in 1998.
Cashmans have started betting on the Ericsson but do not include Beef Or Salmon in their list. Instead the French horse First Gold is a 3 to 1 favourite to win for owner JP McManus.
The Leopardstown highlight is one of the few big races to elude McManus but two former winners are listed to oppose First Gold.
The 1999 and 2,000 victor Rince Ri is a 4 to 1 joint second favourite while last year's hero Foxchapel King is an 8-1 shot to follow up.
BETTING: 3 First Gold, 4 Rince Ri and Valley Henry, 5 Sackville, 6 Commanche Court, 7 Harbour Pilot, 8 Foxchapel King, 12 Colonel Braxton, 33 More Than A Stroll.
Today's action is at Thurles where Willie Mullins brings Ultimate Accolade back from a long lay-off in the concluding bumper.
The horse brings the one bit of racecourse form to the party, a Gowran third to Be My Belle, and will be a hard nut to crack for the rest.
Mullins runs Strawberry Bob in the opener but this race looks a suitable opportunity for the five length Clonmel bumper winner Light On The Broom.
The good claimer Gary Hutchinson looks a significant booking for the Clonmel runner-up Splendid Memories in the first handicap hurdle.
Trainer, Michael Hourigan in confident mood
