Racing:Beef Or Salmon warmed up for his tilt at a fourth Lexus Chase crown with a smooth success in the Irish Racing Yearbook Hurdle at Fairyhouse today.
The 10-year-old looked in trouble with half a mile to run, with Andrew McNamara urging him along well behind the pacesetting You Sir.
But as stamina became an issue in the testing conditions, the nine-times Grade One-winning chaser came firmly back on the bridle and the 7-4 favourite took up the running at the final flight.
Without being asked a serious question, he quickened away from You Sir to record a most impressive one-and-a-half length success and appears in tip-top shape for his Christmas target at Leopardstown.
Trainer Michael Hourigan said: "He's in good order, but he is getting a bit cute at home. He has to work somewhere so we brought him here.
"He wasn't doing much for Andrew until he gave him a back hander. That's a nice prep race for the Lexus at Leopardstown."