Hourigan plays safe

RACING NEWS: Hourigan faces an anxious decision this morning about whether or not to run the Cheltenham Gold Cup second favourite Beef Or Salmon at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The two-mile November Handicap has been earmarked as the ideal kick off for Beef Or Salmon's winter campaign but Hourigan again emphasised yesterday that he wants "safe" ground for his stable star.

"I know it has been raining but quite often this is the most dangerous ground of all to run on. You can go down two inches and then meet it like rock.

"Paddy Mullins once told me that the leg you get in October is the one you really got the previous May.

"I don't know yet about running. I will need nice, safe ground if we are to go to Leopardstown," he said.

The alternative would be to send Beef Or Salmon straight over fences at Clonmel but the weather could yet allow the 10 to 1 Gold Cup second favourite run at Leopardstown.

The going was "good" at the Co Dublin track yesterday but up to an inch of rain was forecast by the Met' Office overnight.

"We are expecting a fairly substantial fall and the worst case scenario is an inch falling. Saturday is supposed to be dry but then there is more rain expected for Saturday night.

"It's hard to figure what the ground will be but if we get that inch then it will definitely be on the soft side," said Leopardstown's racing manager Tom Burke.

Beef Or Salmon does not figure among the entries for the James Nicholson Chase at Down Royal tomorrow week but last season's Gold Cup runner-up, Truckers Tavern, looks like travelling from Britain from the race.

"As long as it is good ground, Truckers Tavern will run in Ireland," said trainer Ferdy Murphy yesterday.

"He is spot on and stronger this season.

"It is a valuable race and one in which I saddled Hindiana to finish fourth two years ago. I think my horse is fitter for this time of year than he was before. We have had a good start thanks to our new Eurotrack gallop facility," Murphy added.

Gowran hosts an all-flat card this afternoon and the champion jockey-elect Michael Kinane again looks the rider to follow.

The Aidan O'Brien trained March ran an eye-catching debut over six furlongs at Naas and the mile of today's maiden should suit ideally.

Kinane rode Livadiya to a Stakes win for Harry Rogers on Monday and he looks a significant booking for Kilmannin in the second division of the mile handicap.

Athlumney Lad was up against it when facing Battling Mac here but is only 9lbs higher in the ratings for a previous impressive win at Navan. Kinane can get the Meade horse home in the last race.