Leopardstown report: Beef Or Salmon proved at Leopardstown yesterday that if resilience counts for anything he might yet pick up that elusive Cheltenham Gold Cup crown in March.

The Michael Hourigan-trained star is no longer the bright young thing that travelled to Cheltenham in 2003 with sky-high expectations, but two other Gold Cup failures since then have still not dented the faith of those closest to him.

"Often the best horse in the race doesn't win the Gold Cup, but he certainly has the potential to do so," said Hourigan after yesterday's authoritative four-length Lexus Chase triumph over War Of Attrition.

There was an iron conviction in the statement that allowed as much room for disagreement as Beef Or Salmon had allowed his four opponents out on the track.

Paul Carberry's confidence is pretty high anyway but in his current form he is irresistible and Beef Or Salmon made only one minor mistake, at the fifth last, before grabbing the race by the throat.

War Of Attrition ran much better than he did in the Durkan but still fell well short of Beef Or Salmon, who powered to a third Lexus win and a seventh Grade One in total.

"I think that's the best he's ever jumped," said Hourigan, who confirmed that Beef Or Salmon will now try and follow up his 2003 triumph in February's Hennessy.

"We have had no problems with him this season and we'll see what happens after the Hennessy."

Bookmaker reaction was to rate Beef Or Salmon as the main threat to Kicking King's Cheltenham crown at a general 8 to 1.

With a cross-Channel defence looking likely to depend on an out-of-sorts Kingscliff and a doubtful stayer in Monkerhostin, it was an understandable move, and Carberry is in the Hourigan camp when it comes to keeping the faith.

"It's fingers crossed and thumbs up for March," grinned the jockey, whose ebullient form was only helped by the sponsor's donation of a free €70,000 car for a year.

"He gave me a great feel the whole way. He jumped brilliant and sprinted away at the end. The mistake was my fault. I didn't help him out."

It was a fifth Grade One at Leopardstown for the winner and Hourigan defiantly declared: "He has won more than a lot of horses. He will probably win it again next year."

War Of Attrition did enough for one firm to cut his Gold Cup price to 12 to 1, and trainer Mouse Morris was taking the positives out of the horse's first attempt at three miles.

"He has run a good race considering he ran like a dog the last day," Morris said. "He definitely stayed the trip and we will take him home now and freshen him up. He will be entered for the Hennessy but it's more likely he will go straight to Cheltenham."

Forget The Past was a further 11 lengths back in third and beat home the Grand National hero Hedgehunter, who made the early running.

Willie Mullins's horse remains a 10 to 1 joint favourite with Clan Royal for an Aintree repeat.

Yesterday's Leopardstown attendance of 17,044 was down 2,278 on the corresponding day last year. Bookmaker turnover was also down, by over €200,000 to €2,443,325, but the Tote figure, €642,183, was up almost €40,000.