Beef Or Salmon will make a rare appearance over timber tomorrow with a spin in the two-mile Ratoath College Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The eight-times Grade One winner has raced predominately over fences since 2002, but trainer Michael Hourigan has opted to give the 10-year-old a pipe-opener over smaller obstacles.
Hourigan employed similar tactics last April when running Beef Or Salmon over hurdles ahead of his engagement in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup, where he finished a close second to War Of Attrition.
"He worked nicely on Tuesday and he will run over hurdles this weekend as he needs the work," said Hourigan. "I took him schooling at Tipperary three weeks ago and he cut himself and it has knocked him back in his schedule."
Andrew McNamara will take the ride at Fairyhouse ahead of Beef Or Salmon's seasonal bow over fences in Down Royal on November 4th.
"His first run over fences will be in the James Nicholson Wine Merchants Chase in the north next month," Hourigan continued. "He is also in the Betfair Million at Haydock, but I also have Church Island in that race and they won't clash."
And Hourigan is not avoiding taking his stable star back across the Irish Sea this winter despite his no-show in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and him unseating regular rider Paul Carberry at Aintree.
Hourigan added: "I'm not scared to take him back to England. What is there to lose?"