RACING: Michael Hourigan expressed his satisfaction with Beef Or Salmon's training yesterday and confirmed the horse on course for next week's Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The sad fate of Jair Du Cochet, who broke a leg and had to be put down on Tuesday, has propelled Beef Or Salmon to near second favouritism for the Gold Cup but the Co Limerick trainer is not thinking in terms of a rival out of the way. "It's very sad for everyone what happened to that horse. It happened to me last year (Dorans Pride) but at least it happened on the racecourse with us. No one likes to see a good horse go like that. It just shows what can happen," he said.
Hourigan is now concentrating on the finishing touches to Beef Or Salmon's preparation after the horse's protracted muscle problems through the winter. "I haven't had to push him and I'm happy about that. He worked on Tuesday at Tipperary over a mile and a half under Joe Casey and he jumped six hurdles this morning. I might work him again on Friday over a mile but I haven't decided. After that we will just sail away to Cheltenham," he said.
This afternoon's action is at Clonmel where the Christy Roche team can confirm their return to winning form with Like A Bee in the three-mile hurdle.
Like-A-Butterfly's brother has been placed in decent contests behind Collier County and Inexorable and today's trip, plus a 7lb claim, should be right up his alley.
An increase in trip should also see another JP McManus-owned winner as Jones's Road goes in the Beginners Chase. Placed efforts behind Light On The Broom at Thurles and Horner Rocks at Limerick prove his jumping is sound enough but two miles was always going to be too short.
Camdengreenmachine is 8lb higher in the ratings for winning at Downpatrick last week but can complete a double for Paul Carberry who also looks to hold a winning shout on Doire-Chrinn.
Aidan O'Brien's Necklace and the Michael Stoute-trained Red Bloom are 14 to 1 joint-favourites with Corals for the Vodafone Oaks after the entries for the fillies' Classic were revealed yesterday. The Ballydoyle trainer has 13 representatives for the race at Epsom on June 4th.
