Beef has another go at Leopardstown

Michael Hourigan regards anything his stable stalwart Beef Or Salmon does during the rest of his career as a bonus but that doesn't mean the Limerick trainer believes his Leopardstown specialist will be a back number when he tries for a remarkable fourth victory in next week's Lexus Chase.

Beef Or Salmon will turn 12 on January 1st but he is back for another crack at a race he first won in 2002, when known as the Ericsson, and also in 2004 and 2005 when he defeated Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Best Mate and War Of Attrition.

Once again his name figures among the dozen entries left in Leopardstown's third day Christmas festival feature after yesterday's forfeit stage, alongside his old rival The Listener and also the heavy odds on ante-post favourite Denman.

With State Of Play and L'Antartique also reported to be likely British Lexus starters, it adds up to what could be a vintage renewal of the race. However, Beef Or Salmon will still have his followers.

With three victories in the Hennessy (2003-06-07) also in the bag over the Leopardstown course and distance, Hourigan believes even veteran status won't prevent the chances of the popular chestnut adding an emotional 11th top-flight success to an already glittering CV.

"He certainly won't be any 20 to 1 shot - not around Leopardstown anyway!" joked Hourigan who also plans to run his up and coming young chaser Mossbank in the race.

With Hi Cloy a possible runner against Kauto Star in the King George at Kempton on St Stephen's Day, it all adds up to a busy Christmas for the Patrickswell-based trainer's band of top chasers.

However, there's little doubt that Beef Or Salmon remains a sentimental favourite.

"At this stage of his life, everything with him is a bonus because he's already been a wonderful horse for us, the yard, and for Ireland too. I don't know of any other horse that has won 10 Grade Ones so he sets the standard," Hourigan said yesterday.

"With the ground the way it is, it might suit Mossbank but Salmon definitely will run and Paul Carberry will possibly ride," he added before nominating the King George as a target for Hi Cloy.

"He might go to Kempton and he'll have more chance of getting three miles around there than he'll have at home. I've spoken to the owner and we'll play it by ear but it is a possible," Hourigan said.

Ferdy Murphy has committed his high class chaser L'Antartique to a step up to Grade One level in the Lexus, although he fears the quality of opposition.

"It looks the race to see over Christmas time. The King George is fantastic as well but this does look a very competitive race," Murphy reported.

"It will be interesting with Denman and The Listener up front and we'll creep away and hopefully get some experience into him."

The feature on the fourth and final day of Leopardstown will be the Bewleys Hotel December Festival Hurdle for which just 10 entries remain, including Harchibald, who is an intended starter in Wednesday's Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

His trainer Noel Meade has other options, though, with the Hatton's Grace winner Aitmatov and Jazz Messenger who landed last weekend's Grade Two event over two and a half miles at Navan.

As expected, Edward O'Grady will be represented by Clopf rather than Catch Me in the Grade One event, despite a lacklustre effort by Clopf in his last start in Newcastle's Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

Al Eile ran second to Harchibald in that race and looks set to try and secure another Leopardstown victory in the Bewleys.

"He's a likely runner if the ground stays the way it is and it looks like it might," said Al Eile's trainer John Queally.

"He was unlucky to run into Harchibald on one of his good days. The real Harchibald turned up that day but I understand he might be going to Kempton."

Ruby Walsh makes his long awaited comeback from injury at Thurles on Sunday, ahead of what could be a busy Christmas period for the champion jockey with the likes of Kauto Star and Denman set to run.