RACING: Just twice in the Hennessy's 16-year history has the winner gone on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but Beef Or Salmon has already proved that statistics and trends mean nothing to him. Brian O'Connor reports.
Novices might have their own festival gig in the SunAlliance Chase, and the last one to successfully step up to the gold plate was Captain Christy in 1974, but Beef Or Salmon doesn't know that and his connections don't care.
"There'll be hustle and bustle whatever race he runs in at Cheltenham and he has got most of the things you want in a Gold Cup horse," argued jockey Timmy Murphy afterwards.
Michael Hourigan has long been convinced that his latest chasing star is in a league of his own, and yesterday's four-length defeat of Colonel Braxton was mostly just confirmation of his gut instinct.
"He's got a great sprint and he jumps well and now we just have to get to Cheltenham. The Gold Cup has always been the plan.
"Before any race you can be worried about getting a good run, or something falling in front of him, but Timmy gave him a peach of a ride," Hourigan said.
In fact it was the perfect result for Murphy, who was jocked off Saturday's Tote Gold Trophy winner Spirit Leader by Colonel Braxton's rider Norman Williamson.
In hindsight, his ride, and the Hennessy itself, was perfectly predictable.
Be My Belle's defection from the race due to sore shins ruled out the likely pacemaker, and, just as in the Ericsson, Beef Or Salmon had far too much speed for the opposition.
It was the sort of speed that meant a race time almost six seconds faster than the following hunters' chase.
However, for the second year running the Hennessy was not a happy experience for Florida Pearl, who was pulled up before the last and was suffering from a respiratory tract infection.
It was a less dramatic exit, however, than Le Coudray's from the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase. The season's top novice was settling down to a struggle with Barrow Drive when he crashed out at the last.
The angle of Le Coudray's neck when he hit the ground hinted at the worst, but after some minutes he got up and was led back.
Barrow Drive went on to win by a distance and had his SunAlliance price slashed to 14 to 1 by Paddy Power.
His jockey Jim Culloty said: "I had a little look at Le Coudray before the last and I thought he was coming off it. My fellah's a right trier and it would have been some battle."
Ten Poundsworth was not so lucky, however, falling at the fourth last after what his trainer believed was a brain haemorrhage.
There were fewer dramatics in the Deloitte and Touche Hurdle as the favourite Solerina made all and repelled her market rival Hardy Eustace to earn SunAlliance Hurdle quotes as low as 8 to 1. Cashmans even offer 28 to 1 about both her and stable companion Limestone Lad winning at the festival.
Owner John Bowe said: "She could possibly run again at Naas on the 23rd but she goes for the SunAlliance. My only anxiety is that she might be too brave and stand off her hurdles too far."
There was more dramatic price-slashing following Mutineer's brave defeat of Golden Cross in the Cashmans Juvenile Hurdle and both horses were cut to 16 to 1 by Powers for the Triumph Hurdle.
Kieran Kelly rode the winner to a head win, which eased the pain of his later two-day whip suspension on Hardy Eustace.
"He is entitled to go for the Triumph. The only reason we wouldn't bring him is if the ground gets dry," said trainer Dessie Hughes.
Sheltering also goes to Cheltenham on the back of a win in the hunters' chase, but Edward O'Grady said: "His record suggests he might be better right handed." The bumper favourite Davenport Democrat trailed in 15th in the last race which fell to the newcomer Dizzy's Dream.
The course record for bookmaker turnover of €2,663,047 was generated by a 16,612 crowd yesterday. The Tote total of €542,349 was down €25,383 on last year.
