Beef Or Salmon could finish only fifth behind Colca Canyon on his seasonal debut at Limerick today.
The eight-year-old found the task of giving upwards of 23lb to his rivals in the Anglo Irish Bank Munster National Handicap Chase too much, although he did run on again in the closing stages after losing touch with the leaders.
Colca Canyon (8-1), trained by Jessica Harrington, got into contention at the third-last and stayed on too strongly for Risk Accessor, the mount of Tony McCoy. Takagi finished well to take third.
Barrow Drive unseated Jim Culloty at the second-last fence when sharing the lead with Colca Canyon and Risk Accessor.
Culloty, who suffered a blow to the nose and was slightly concussed, was subsequently stood down for seven days.
Splendour was allowed to build a commanding lead for most of the three-mile contest, but he was reeled in before the third-last as the race began in earnest.
Beef Or Salmon raced in third for most of the way, jumping well, but backpedalled at the business end before staying on.
Cashmans were unimpressed with the run and pushed him out to 12-1 from 8-1 for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.