Cross on Champion trial in AIG

IRISH RACING/News and Previews: Golden Cross is on track to try to seal his Champion Hurdle credentials in the AIG at Leopardstown at the end of the month.

The Michael Halford-trained horse became the longest-priced winner of a Graded jumps race when he scored in the Festival Hurdle at Christmas, but his trainer believes that 66 to 1 SP shouldn't disguise the merit of the performance.

"I was surprised he won on the day, but I'm not surprised to have a Champion Hurdle horse on my hands. People forget he started favourite for the Triumph last season and any horse that can do that is never a complete no-hoper. He was certainly a false price on the day," Halford said yesterday.

"If he is alive and well he will run in the AIG. He is in grand form, even though I haven't done a lot with him. Back in April we decided we would go for the November Handicap and then the race at Christmas. It's a huge step going from juvenile races to the top league, but we were always hopeful he would make that step," he added.

Golden Cross is as low as 14 to 1 with some firms for the Champion Hurdle in March.

Solerina, Spirit Leader and Flame Creek, who filled the places in the Festival Hurdle, could all renew acquaintances in the AIG where claimer Adrian Lane is set to ride Golden Cross again. That Christmas victory was the biggest in the career of the 22-year-old Galway rider, and Halford doesn't see the partnership being broken up.

The day before the AIG, Cheltenham stages the Pilar Chase, a contest that could yet see the reappearance of Beef Or Salmon. Michael Hourigan's gelding is back in training after undergoing a course of antibiotics to lose the mucus found in his lungs after the Ericsson at Leopardstown.

Yesterday a relieved Hourigan reported: "We are back in business. He worked this morning and he scoped clean. We will give it a few days and take some blood to make sure everything is right.

"It is a relief that he is okay and I think that this whole thing explains without doubt why he ran the way he did.

"I don't know where he will run next, but the entries for the race at Cheltenham don't close for a fortnight so we have plenty of time to make up our minds. He will be okay fitness wise for it anyway."

Beef Or Salmon remains as long as 16 to 1 for the Gold Cup after his lack-lustre Ericsson effort behind Best Mate.

The Pierse Hurdle is the highlight at Leopardstown this coming Sunday, but it will also see the reappearance of Emotional Moment after his Christmas fall in the Paddy Fitzpatrick Novice Chase. Trainer Tom Taaffe said yesterday: "We will school him in the morning and see how he gets on, but the plan is to run Sunday. He has been fine since the last day."