Beef third in hurdles spin

Cheltenham Gold Cup disappointment Beef Or Salmon finished third as he enjoyed a confidence-boosting spin over hurdles at Fairyhouse.

Trainer Michael Hourigan dropped his eight-time Grade One winner back to the smaller obstacles after a blunder at the fifth fence in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree saw him unseat Paul Carberry last time out.

That run followed a lacklustre show at the Festival but the 10-year-old showed a little more of his old sparkle under Andrew McNamara in the Racing Post In Ireland Hurdle.

McNamara had to work hard in the early part of the race as Beef Or Salmon was on and off the bridle but turning for home, the Cajetano gelding was travelling better.

Although the winner Patsy Hall had too much toe for Beef Or Salmon, who was sent off the 5-2 favourite, Hourigan's charge kept on well after the last and narrowly failed to snatch second from Mac Three.

Hourigan is now looking forward to running Beef Or Salmon in the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown later in the month.

"I'm very pleased as he hurdled well and when they quickened they caught him a bit flat-footed," said Hourigan.

"They all hurdled quicker than him and he jumped a bit big early on but they are all used to hurdling and he is not."

"That beats working him at home and he hardly had a race in Liverpool or Cheltenham come to think of it."

"If he's fine in the morning he will go to Punchestown and I don't see any reason at this stage why he won't run."

Filed by Katie Byrne