Beef or Salmon not for sale

RACING/Leopardstown - Saturday's Report: Beef or salmon was reported to be "A1" yesterday and a solid "not for sale" sign has been placed in front of him.

The young star is unbeaten in three starts over fences but his graduation to Grade One level in Saturday's Ericsson has made him Ireland's principal hope for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

As a result, it makes the offer of nearly half a million euro earlier in the month seem a shrewd move. It was turned down and those willing to top it are very much wasting their time.

"He is not for sale," trainer Michael Hourigan said yesterday before confirming the Hennessy in February and the Gold Cup itself is the plan for his remarkable new star.

"He is out in the field enjoying himself and he is A1. He doesn't look like he had a race. He was never off the bridle and was only shaken up after the last.

"The Hennessy and then the Gold Cup is the plan at the moment but we'll take it one day at a time. With horses, you never know," Hourigan added.

It was possible some way out in the Ericsson to know that a new force was announcing his arrival on the chasing scene.

The 20 to 1 outsider, Colonel Braxton, tried to dominate from the front and was travelling best of the rest on the turn-in.

By that stage the two favourites, First Gold and Rince Ri, were beaten.

The French horse was later found to have a respiratory infection and Rince Ri was blowing hard afterwards.

That was not an issue for Beef Or Salmon or Timmy Murphy and they only made their final challenge after the last.

The response was impressive indeed and Beef Or Salmon went six lengths clear to earn a 10 to 1 Gold Cup quote from Ladbrokes.

"He was very good, never missed a fence, and he really quickened up when I gave him a slap after the last," reported Murphy who won two other races on the day.

"The horse has been special since I broke him. He won his first point to point at Clonmel by two fences!" grinned Hourigan, who revealed that his new Gold Cup hope is stabled next to his old one, Dorans Pride.

"Maybe he is telling him something," he said.

"The difference between them is that this fellah loves jumping. It was always a bit of an effort with Dorans Pride."

Limestone Lad duly notched up win number 35 of his career in the woodiesdiy.com Hurdle and is now as low as 3 to 1 for the Stayers Hurdle.

"He is an iron horse. You never get to the bottom of him and his jumping is quicker than ever this season," Paul Carberry said afterwards.

Hardy Eustace is clear favourite for the SunAlliance Hurdle after edging out Nil Desperandum in the novice and his festival warm-up will be in the Deloitte & Touche.

"That was a good test. He just does enough in each race and all he does at home is eat and sleep," trainer Dessie Hughes said.