Beef on Leopardstown menu

Racing News: Leopardstown's November Handicap is now being targeted for Beef Or Salmon's long-awaited return to action.

Ireland's leading chaser missed out on last weekend's Cesarewitch at the Curragh due to the ground and trainer Michael Hourigan was anxiously asking yesterday: "Is there any sign of us getting some rain?"

However, Hourigan remains keen to give the horse a start on the flat before he goes over fences again and Beef Or Salmon could now try to improve on his third past the post in last year's November Handicap on the last day of the flat season on November 2nd.

"I think it would be ideal and it is what I have in my head at the moment," said Hourigan.

"A start on the flat would be nice but it all depends on the weather. He could go to the north after that (James Nicholson Chase) or to Clonmel," added Hourigan.

Dorans Pride won the two- mile Leopardstown contest in the year 2000 and Beef Or Salmon was a winner earlier this season on the flat at the Curragh when ridden by Michael Kinane.

The Hennessy and Ericsson winner remains a generally priced 10 to 1 second favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup (in which he fell last March) behind Best Mate (6 to 4.)

Willie Mullins plans to send his Melbourne Cup hope Holy Orders on the long journey to Australia on Sunday and the Grade One hurdles winner will be ridden in the big race by apprentice Davy Condon.

"Myself and the owner are keen to keep a winning team together," explained the Co Carlow-based trainer.

Mullins also indicated that Davenport Milenium will not be sent novice chasing this season and instead will be aimed at the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

"If he stays right, that will be the reason we stay over hurdles. I think myself and the owner are agreed on that.

"There are no firm plans for a comeback for him. He is coming along nicely and I am hoping he will be out before Christmas," Mullins said.

Davenport Milenium briefly headed the ante-post betting for the 2003 Champion Hurdle after two victories at the 2002 Punchestown Festival.

However, the six-year-old hasn't been able to run since finishing third to Intersky Falcon in Kempton's Christmas Hurdle almost 10 months ago.

The 1999 Galway Plate winner Moscow Express has been retired from racing after a lack-lustre effort in Sunday's Munster National at Limerick.

"He seems to have lost his enthusiasm so we have decided to retire him.

"But he could still stay here and have a job as a lead horse," confirmed trainer Frances Crowley who prepared him for his greatest success.

Crowley's brother-in-law Aidan O'Brien also trained Moscow Express during the early days of his career.