Racing Clonmel report: Edredon Bleu rose to the occasion to record another famous success as he prevailed in a thrilling renewal of the Clonmel Oil Chase yesterday. But supporters of rising local star Beef Or Salmon can take heart from his defeat as he looked to be in with a major shout approaching the last only to blunder his chance away.

The Michael Hourigan-trained Beef Or Salmon ran as if in need of the race and his jumping was not always fluent in the early stages of the Clonmel Grade Two contest.

He made up plenty of ground after the second-last to jump the final fence upsides Edredon Bleu but he hit it hard and Timmy Murphy did well to stay in the plate. But their chance had gone, although he ran on to finish third beaten a head and a length.

It was left to Arctic Copper to throw down a challenge to the bold-jumping Edredon Bleu, and he looked to have headed Henrietta Knight's remarkable 11-year-old on the run to the line.

But Edredon Bleu once again showed he is as tough as they come and rallied under Jim Culloty's strong driving to score a narrow success.

Coral cut Beef Or Salmon for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup to 10 to 1 from 12s, while Paddy Power go 8 to 1 from 10 to 1. Ladbrokes and William Hill left his price unchanged at 10 to 1.

Hourigan was certainly not despondent afterwards. "I think the horse would have been more fluent with a run under his belt," he said. "We didn't get a chance to even give him a racecourse gallop because of the dry autumn.

"Although he has been schooled over fences, he hasn't run over them since March and I think you will see a different horse next time. The horse just lost his footing on landing and I think he probably would have won but for that.

"Timmy is disappointed and I think he is a bit annoyed with himself that he opted to go down the inner at the last rather than coming wide like the second horse. It's unfortunate we didn't win but at this time last year he'd had two Flat runs under his belt.

"The Ericsson after Christmas at Leopardstown (December 28th) is still the plan but I wouldn't rule out him running in the John Durkan at Punchestown next month either (December 7th)."

Knight could not contain her delight afterwards and said a return to Ireland for her former champion chaser could be on the agenda. "He never lets us down. I didn't watch most of it but I did have a peek at a couple and he jumped so well," she said. "They were closing on him in the straight but he is so brave and it is a great thrill to train my first winner in Ireland.

"It's remarkable to think that so soon before his 12th birthday he seems better than ever. It's amazing to think he won five novice chases in France as a four-year-old and he's still going so strong.

"He goes off on his winter holiday and perhaps we might bring him to Fairyhouse next spring if there is something there over a similar trip that would suit."

The Wantage-based trainer is, of course, also responsible for Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Best Mate, who is scheduled to return to the track at Huntingdon on Saturday. "He's in great form and we're looking forward to Saturday," she added.