Hourigan delays decision

Michael Hourigan will leave it late before deciding whether to run Mossbank in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

The eight-year-old is the 11 to 4 favourite with Boylesports for the Grade One event after his second place behind Denman in the Lexus Chase last month.

Although Mossbank's participation will depend on the ground among other factors, three-time race winner and Lexus fourth Beef Or Salmon is on course for a fifth attempt on the race.

"We don't have to declare him (Mossbank) until Friday week so we will wait and see what the ground is and everything else," said Hourigan.

"I'll discuss it with (owner) Michael O'Leary through the week but the Ryanair Chase is the plan for him at the moment.

"If the ground was drying out the way it is at the moment, Mossbank would be the most likely one but Salmon would run one way or the other."

Beef Or Salmon boasts an admirable record having won 10 Grade One events with six of those victories having come at Leopardstown. Now Hourigan has a Grand National bid in mind for the 12-year-old. "He will be entered in the Irish and Aintree Nationals - it will be either one or the other. It wouldn't be the end of the world if we didn't go to Aintree, he's done the yard very well and he's been a super horse all round. I wouldn't like anything to happen to him."