 Beef Or Salmon is again aimed at the Cheltenham Gold Cup |
Beef Or Salmon underlined his status as joint favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup with an easy win in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown. The 2-5 shot finished 12 lengths ahead of last year's Grand National winner Hedgehunter despite making a bad mistake five fences from home.
Old-stager Native Upmanship finished a long way back in third.
Beef Or Salmon is the 5-1 joint favourite with Monkerhostin to land the big Cheltenham prize on 17 March.
The 10-year-old's trainer Michael Hourigan said: "I was nervous beforehand as he was there to be shot at.
"For a change (jockey) Paul (Carberry) said he was jumping too good today, giving his fences plenty of scope and height.
"I would love it to be his year and if he gets there as fit and healthy as he was today, he has every chance."
Hedgehunter's trainer Willie Mullins said: "I was delighted with that. I was hoping to cause an upset, but he didn't manage it.
"I will make a decision in the early part of next week as to whether he runs in the Gold Cup or goes straight to Aintree."
MMIX
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