Beef only third on seasonal debut

Beef Or Salmon had his price cut by most bookmakers for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup despite finishing only third behind Edredon Bleu in a thrilling renewal of the Clonmel Oil Chase.

Edredon Bleu, trainer Henrietta Knight´s first winner in Ireland, made virtually all in this 60,000 euro two and a half miles Grade 2 event, jumping with his usual speed and accuracy while Beef Or Salmon in comparison was quite slow and deliberate.

Timmy Murphy was looking anxious in sixth place aboard the 4/5 favourite entering the straight but Michael Hourigan´s charge went up a gear between the final two fences and looked set to pounce on the leader until a mistake at the last stopped him in his tracks.

The English raider was left to gallantly hold off the persistent challenge of Arctic Copper by a head, with the unlucky Beef Or Salmon just a length back in third. Hourigan was quite upbeat afterwards saying, ´He had two races on the Flat before running in this last year, and I think he will improve quite a bit. We will see how he is in the morning, and he may go next for the Durkan at Punchestown (December 7) or else wait until Leopardstown at Christmas.´

Ms Knight was understandably delighted saying, ´He will be 12 in January but is still as tough and game as ever. He´s had three quick races, and we´ll probably put him away now until the spring. He likes right-handed tracks, and something at Fairyhouse over two and a half miles would really suit him well. I´ll have to write a book about him now!´

Paddy Power make Beef Or Salmon 8/1 (from 10´s) for the Cheltenham showpiece, while Chronicle cut him to 7´s (from 10/1). The leading Irish-trained hope remains 8/1 with Cashmans behind 5/4 favourite Best Mate.

Championship leader Barry Geraghty was stood down for the remainder of the day with a bruised right knee after being unseated from 9/4 favourite Ride The Storm at the first fence in the handicap chase. Hourigan gained some compensation for the defeat of his stable-star here when Smart Design landed the spoils under Paul Carberry.