RACING: Michael Hourigan yesterday expressed his confidence in Beef Or Salmon's ability to act on faster ground if the Cheltenham track dries out ahead of the Gold Cup. Beef Or Salmon has run just once on "good" ground in his 16-race career and was beaten in that race, the Land Rover Bumper of May, 2001.
The Gold Cup second favourite has won eight of his racecourse starts but half of them were on going described as "heavy" and three others were on "soft". His victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown last time was on ground officially described as "yielding to soft".
Hourigan, however, remains unconcerned about ground conditions improving before the festival and reports Beef Or Salmon in fine shape. "It was very quick in the Land Rover Bumper and it wasn't a bother to him. In fact I think he will be better on it. It's not a problem," the Co Limerick trainer said.
Hourigan hopes to have one other runner at the festival but first of all Hi Cloy will have to advertise his SunAlliance Hurdle claims at Naas tomorrow rather better than he did in the Deloitte & Touche. Hi Cloy finished up a 16-length fourth to Solerina on that occasion but the trainer is willing to forgive him that.
"I was disappointed with the way the race was run. He was too close to the pace and he's not that kind of horse. He didn't settle but we'll try to drop him in on Sunday," he said.
Hi Cloy goes in the Grade Two Johnstown Novices Hurdle along with a few other SunAlliance outsiders including Solerina's stable companion Florida Coast.
The Bowe runner should relish the extra half mile from his run behind Kicking King at Punchestown but the extra distance shouldn't inconvenience Central House either who has 12 lengths in hand on that Punchestown form.
Colonel Braxton, Alexander Banquet and Sackville have been the last three winners of the Nas Na Riogh Chase and while nothing of that calibre is likely to emerge this time, it could provide a change of luck for Nomadic. The grey was hampered at Navan last Sunday, losing his rider at the sixth fence in the race won by The Premier Cat. Lord Of The Turf was pulled up while Eskimo Jack has been disappointing.
Go Roger Go comes out ahead on the ratings for the Newlands Chase (a race that sees the return of Aintree Grand National favourite Davids Lad) but maybe Copernicus can repeat his course and distance win of earlier in the season when ahead of Native Upmanship.
The three-mile trip of the handicap hurdle should be ideal for Sully Shuffles while Mitchelstown looks a bet in the bumper. However an interesting runner tomorrow will be the ex-Willie Mullins trained Summer In Siberia who gets a first start in 20 months in the opener.
