Beef Or Salmon showed true grit to defeat Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition in a battle royale at Down Royal today, winning the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase today to claim his 9th Grade 1 chase.
The race lived up to its star billing and both Justified and War Of Attrition looked set to fight out for top honours early in the straight, with Beef Or Salmon under pressure in third.
However, Beef Or Salmon, ridden for the first time over fences by new partner Andrew McNamara, responded gamely to eventually chase down and head War Of Attrition on the run-in for a famous neck win.
Winning trainer Michael Hourigan was attending the wedding of his niece Rosemary Nash but was represented by his daughter Kay who reported 'both Beef Or Salmon and War Of Attrition are very good horses and it was brilliant to win.'
She added 'we will only think as far as the new year with him and he will run in the Lexus Chas at Leopardstown during Christmas next.'
Connections of runner-up War Of Attrition were upbeat following their defeat with owner Michael O'Leary reporting 'we were beaten by a horse who has now won nine Grade 1 chases.
The ground was probably a bit tacky for our horse but its no disgrace to be beaten by Beef Or Salmon.'
Afterwards, BoyleSports pushed War Of Attrition out to 7/2 (from 100/30) for the Cheltenham Gold Cup while Beef Or Salmon, still far from certain to start in the race, is unchanged at 25/1.
Half an hour later, another live Gold Cup contender, In Compliance, effortlessly won the Grade 3 Killultagh Properties Ltd Chase, despite almost coming to grief at the fifth last fence.
In Compliance over-jumped the fence, almost unseated Barry Geraghty, but once Geraghty got the horse on an even keel, staying on strongly to lead two out, for a heavily eased down three parts of a length win over Wild Passion.
Winning trainer Michael O'Brien was absent but was represented by son-in-law and assistant Denis Cullen who reported 'that was a very good performance for his first run back and he'll go to Cheltenham next weekend for the Paddy Power Chase.'
BoyleSports later cut In Compliance to 7/1 (from 14/1) for the Paddy Power Chase while cut him to 14/1 (from 20/1) for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Hourigan-McNamara combination earlier combined for the opening leg of a double when Cluain Arra landed the Eastwood Tele-Betting Handicap Hurdle.
Kay Hourigan later mentioned 'that is the first winner for Cluain Arra's owner Tracey Hennessy who works as out secretary at home.'
Trainer Noel Meade recorded his 100th winner of the year when his Tango Jim landed the opening A. Bartlett & Sons (Airdrie) Ltd Maiden Hurdle, under Jason McKeown.
Owned by the Carrickill Syndicate, which includes the winning rider's father Patsy McKeown, Tango Jim moved through to lead after the second last flight, staying on well for a five and a half length win over Kingsmaster.
Afterwards Meade reported 'he is a nice horse and jumps great. He had a wind operation after disappointing a few times since winning his bumper and will go for a novice hurdle next.'
Meade's milestone is undoubtedly notable but the achievement of Rush, Co Dublin trainer Ado McGuinness this season is even more remarkable.
McGuinness, 41, saddled his 26th winner of the year, from a yard of just 14 horses, when his Victram arrived late to win the The Open Northern Ireland's Betting Shops On Sundays Handicap Hurdle, under an inch-perfect ride from Andrew Lynch.
Afterwards McGuinness revealed 'two years ago I had only three horses in training and seriously considered giving up!'
He added 'Victram is in again tomorrow at Leopardstown but won't run - he'll go for the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot in December next.'
Dusty Sheehy's Keevas Boy landed the 2m6f handicap chase under a tidy ride from first-time-winning amateur jockey and teenager Sean Flanagan.
Thomas Weekes.
