Carberry gets call to partner Beef Or Salmon

Racing News and Limerick previewOver two years after first riding Beef Or Salmon, Paul Carberry will again team up with Ireland's top rated staying chaser in Tuesday's Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

Timmy Murphy, Beef Or Salmon's regular jockey, is free to ride on Tuesday after a successful appeal hearing in Britain yesterday. However, he has been claimed to ride for Martin Pipe in the Welsh Grand National that day.

But with Noel Meade yesterday ruling out Harbour Pilot from a Lexus clash with Best Mate, the way is clear for Carberry to get back on the Michael Hourigan-trained star.

"It's very good news," acknowledged Hourigan who is a confirmed admirer of the former champion jockey. Ruby Walsh rode Beef Or Salmon in a post-race work-out at Thurles last weekend but he too has commitments in the UK next week.

Carberry's sole racecourse start on Beef Or Salmon was in the horse's first chase start at Clonmel in November 2002. They won easily from Sackville.

The Hourigan team will be heavily involved at their local Limerick track on St Stephen's Day and Just could be a winner for them in the handicap hurdle.

However, the featured Guinness Greenmount Park Novice Chase can see David Wachman's prolific winner Cane Brake secure another winning notch with Old Flame looking the one to make him do most.

Tom Taaffe's focus will be on Kicking King's attempt at King George VI glory at Kempton but he will also have an interest in the conditions hurdle at Limerick where Emotional Article tries to follow up a Gowran handicap success last time out. The Taaffe horse's experience will be a factor against Guest Artist.

In the autumn, if anyone suggested Kahuna would be running in a Beginners' Chase here, there would be considerable disbelief. However, a combination of jumping mistakes, bad luck and a rousing rally from Sandy Owen at Thurles last time means he is in just that position. Holiday punters can take advantage.

Another local trainer, Charles Byrnes, has made his presence felt in bumper races this year and his representative in Sunday's bumper, Powerstation, looks another to follow. Certainly there was a lot to like in the way this one ran on at Clonmel on his debut.

The Fingermsith, who races in the JP McManus colours, was a 25 to 1 shot on his Galway bumper debut but there will be none of that on offer this time in the second maiden hurdle.