IRISH GRAND NATIONAL NEWS:BEEF OR SALMON heads a field of 26 runners for the €250,000 Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday in what could be the star veteran's last race.
The 10-time Grade One winner's trainer Michael Hourigan has admitted that retirement is being considered for Beef Or Salmon who will have to carry topweight of 12st in what will be his first attempt at what remains one of the most coveted prizes in Irish steeplechasing.
Jockey Tom Doyle will be on board Beef Or Salmon for the first time in what will be the horse's 50th career start. But it's an old friend of the old horse who will ride the likely favourite, Royal County Star.
Timmy Murphy was confirmed as Royal County Star's jockey at yesterday's declaration stage and Murphy will be hoping for a repeat of 2001 when he teamed up with local trainer Tony Martin to score with Davids Lad.
Murphy partnered Beef Or Salmon on 14 occasions in the past, with a 50 per cent success rate, but this time he has elected to stick with Royal County Star who was a 4 to 1 shot in ante-post betting yesterday.
Ruby Walsh, twice an Irish National winner with Numbersixvalverde (2005) and Commanche Court (2000), will be on board the ex-French novice Pomme Tiepy who crashed out of the SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham just nine days ago.
Walsh's rival in the race for another Irish jockeys title, Davy Russell, will ride the 6 to 1 second favourite Cailin Alainn while Kevin Coleman, who was hit with a record 50-day ban under 'non-trier' rules at Limerick last weekend will be hoping for better luck on board the Galway Plate winner Sir Frederick.
There are two British hopes with both The Outlier and Flintoff travelling across the Irish sea from Venetia Williams's yard. The raiders have a good recent record in the race with Butlers Cabin winning last year and Granit D'Estruval emerging victorious in 2004.
As well as the favourite, other local hopes will centre on Notre Pere, trained by Jim Dreaper at the famous Kilsallaghan stables in north Co Dublin from which Arkle emerged to win the Easter highlight in 1964.
BETTING: (Paddy Power):4 Royal County Star 6 Cailin Alainn and Pomme Tiepy 12 Preists Leap, 14 Alexander Taipan and Notre Pere, 16 Ballistraw, Ballycullen Boy, Beef Or Salmon and Sir Frederick, 20 Homer Wells, Mattock Ranger and Well Run, 25 Bar.
