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.
Ruby Walsh partnered his first winner in Ireland since returning recently from a hip injury at the Listowel Festival when Loss Of Faith justified good support in the three miles maiden hurdle. After Michael O'Brien's charge was prominent throughout to beat Criaire Princess by six lengths, stable representative Denis Cullen said, 'He will stay novice hurdling this season, and is a nice chasing prospect for the future.'
Alan Donoghue was stood down for 48 hours with mild concussion following a three horse pile-up involving his mount, the ironically-named Gotaknockonthehead, on the decent into the home straight.
Go My Dream was also a popular order in the betting ring (16/1 to 9/1) for the two miles handicap hurdle, and the confidence proved on the mark as the mare led before two out under Shay Barry to beat Euro Flyer by two lengths. 'She's had problems for a year and a half, and can lose condition easily,' explained trainer John Morrison.
Yogi, a facile winner on the Flat at Galway last month, again successfully adopted front-running tactics in the two and a half miles handicap hurdle. The seven-year-old gelding stayed on strongly in the straight under Garrett Cotter to beat Oliverjohn by four lengths, with the gambled-on Commanche Course a further seven lengths adrift in third.
Alan Magee
