Salmon Heads Gold Cup Field

Beef Or Salmon heads a field of 16 in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday. Michael Hourigan´s charge, fourth to Best Mate 12 months ago, is one of four Irish-trained runners declared at today´s final 48-hour stage.

Another strong fancy from the Emerald Isle is Kicking King, winner of the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

He is trained by Tom Taaffe, whose father Pat partnered the mighty Arkle to a hat-trick of Gold Cup wins from 1964 to 1966.

Edward O´Grady´s Pizarro and the Willie Mullins-trained Rule Supreme complete the Irish contingent, although the latter has been declared as a precaution should he have a mishap early in tomorrow´s Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

With Best Mate, Kingscliff and Farmer Jack all out of the race, the Gold Cup has a particularly open look about it this year.

Kingscliff´s trainer Robert Alner will be represented by last year´s runner-up Sir Rembrandt, the mount of Andrew Thornton.

Another horse bidding to go one better than in the past is Ferdy Murphy´s Truckers Tavern, second to Best Mate in 2003.

Martin Pipe has the strongest team numerically with four runners, headed by Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Celestial Gold.

Therealbandit, Tiutchev and Venn Ottery, who runs in today´s Queen Mother Champion Chase, complete the champion trainer´s squad.

(c) PA Sport