Hourigan will stick to same routine

News Round-Up:  Michael Hourigan has insisted he will do nothing differently in Beef Or Salmon's Cheltenham preparation as the veteran star builds up for what will be a remarkable fifth attempt at the Totesport Gold Cup.

With doubts growing about whether or not the rising young star of Irish steeplechasing, In Compliance, will even make the race, it looks like a case of the old guard taking over as back-up to the reigning champion War Of Attrition when Irish-trained horses try to make it three-in-a-row at Prestbury Park next month.

Last year's runner-up Hedgehunter was definitely ruled out of the Gold Cup yesterday and In Compliance will miss out on Saturday's Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse as he continues to worry trainer Michael O'Brien.

"He just doesn't seem to be performing at the moment. He is quite dull in himself and doesn't seem to have any life in him. His blood counts are fine and he is scoping clean but for some reason he is not performing.

"We don't have any clues at the moment but if he doesn't come round, he won't be going anywhere," O'Brien said.

Compared to that, the Beef Or Salmon team are enjoying a trouble-free route back to Cheltenham where the 10-time Grade One winner will attempt to finally break his Gold Cup hoodoo.

A fourth place to Best Mate in 2004 is so far the best Beef Or Salmon has managed in the blue riband event in which he finished 11th behind War Of Attrition last year.

Both horses could again lead the Irish challenge this time against the hot favourite Kauto Star but Hourigan will not be doing anything differently this time compared to previous years.

"It will be no different at all. It's just a case of hoping that this time we will be lucky," he said yesterday while confirming he is likely to have four runners at the festival.

"I suppose if there is anything different, it's that he will without doubt wear blinkers again. I don't know if they made a huge difference to him winning the Hennessy but it does make you wonder what might have happened if he hadn't worn them," the Co Limerick trainer said yesterday. "He has been in excellent form since then and soft ground wouldn't bother him."

All four of Beef Or Salmon's previous Gold Cup attempts were on officially "good" ground but with conditions at Cheltenham expected to be softer this time, the veteran star could be better able to cope with his bogey course.

"The plan is to also run Hi Cloy in the Ryanair, Mossbank in the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase and Church Island in either the William Hill Trophy or the Kim Muir," Hourigan added.

"Softer ground wouldn't bother any of them either and Mossbank might be a better horse fresh."

Willie Mullins ruled Hedgehunter out of the Gold Cup yesterday but a return to Aintree for the Grand National in April remains very much on the cards for the 2005 National hero who has been dogged with a knee problem this season.

"He is doing a lot of swimming and slow exercise but we are going to skip Cheltenham and head to Aintree with hopefully a run beforehand," Mullins said.

"At the moment he is sound and the vets reports are good. His next run will probably be over hurdles just to blow the cobwebs away. His one aim every year is the National but we have been lucky enough in the past to pick up other races along the way."

Mullins looks like being doubly represented in Saturday's Grade Three Winning Fair Hurdle as he continues to try and finalise his plans for the juvenile division at the Cheltenham Festival.

"J'y Vole and Jayo look likely to run but it's not as certain about Deutschland or Financial Reward," he said.

Last year's Gold Cup third, Forget The Past, could yet join Hedgehunter in the Grand National but first the horse will take his chance in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham for which he remains a 10 to 1 shot.

Forget The Past disappointed behind Beef Or Salmon in the Hennessy but Michael O'Brien reported:

"He has never liked that heavy ground and he looks great now so we are putting it down as a one off. The plan is still the Ryanair as it looks a better Gold Cup this year. We will discuss the National afterwards but he would get the good ground he requires and there is a month between the races this year."